FROM Worcestershire League Division One to the Indian Premier League in a fraction under three years, it is fair to say Andre Russell’s career has taken off.

The West Indian all-rounder spent an explosive season playing club cricket for Barnards Green, before catching the eye of his national selectors and going on to be signed up by IPL franchise the Delhi Daredevils.

The 24-year-old is now set to return to Worcestershire after signing on as the County’s second overseas player for the forthcoming Friends Life t20.

Russell, who shared a Daredevils dressing room with the likes of England batsman Kevin Pietersen and Sri Lanka ace Mahela Jayawardene, was a late replacement for former New Zealand international Jacob Oram.

The experienced Black Caps all-rounder was initially announced as Worcestershire’s t20 overseas player, but hernia surgery scuppered his New Road stint and the club acted quickly to bring in the big-hitting Jamaican.

Russell, who trained with the Worcestershire squad during his Barnards Green spell, said: “It was obviously a big step going from Barnards Green to playing for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL in just a few years and that was a big surprise.

“I would have liked more opportunities to have played in the IPL, but the experience was great sharing a dressing room with the likes of Kevin and Mahela.

“I’m looking forward to it and counting down the days until I come to New Road.

“I’m heading over to Worcestershire on Sunday and will be there in plenty of time for the first game against Glamorgan on June 28. I have been practicing hard and working on my yorkers and slower balls to improve my t20 skills.

“It was good fun to be involved with the Worcester players when I was with Barnards Green.

“I watched them practicing their t20 hitting and they were struggling to clear the stand, so I shouted to the coach Steve Rhodes that I would like to have a go and I hit the ball out of the ground!

“Hopefully, the Worcestershire fans can look forward to that kind of thing out in the middle as I am renowned as being a big hitter.

“I will try to give myself the chance to stay in the middle for a while and, if that happens, the fans can expect some fireworks!

“It is all about being positive, freeing your mind and believing in yourself and I am feeling really confident at the moment.”

Russell, who wass in the West Indies ‘A’ squad for Tuesday’s washed-out t20 international with Sri Lanka ‘A’ in Kingstown, St Vincent, will be available to Worcestershire for the first eight group games of the FL t20, but then has to return home to play for Jamaica in the Caribbean Premier League.

He added: “I am looking forward to coming to Worcester and getting among the boys — I will be there for around a month before I go back to join up with Jamaica for the Caribbean Premier League in late July.

“I hear it is a bit cold and wet in England at the moment compared to Jamaica, but I will make sure I bring some heat to New Road with my batting and bowling!”