‘He plays me as a medium pacer, but my slower is 117 and faster is 120’ – Mashrafe Mortaza reveals why Andre Russell has difficulties while facing him

Mashrafe Mortaza, the former Bangladesh skipper, made some hilarious revelations about Andre Russell had troubles against him. On Monday, May 4, the Narail Express had a chat with Tamim Iqbal on the latter’s Facebook pace and around 90 thousand viewers got to see their healthy camaraderie. As far as Russell is concerned, he resorts to the big booming shots right from the word go.

Earlier this year, apart from his batting and bowling prowess, he also guided the Rajshahi Royals to their maiden title in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Despite having all the shots in his armour, Tamim was a bit bemused by Mashrafe’s dominance over the hulk-like Jamaican.

“We know Russell is one of the biggest hitters in the world. But why he can’t hit you?,” Tamim, the newly appointed Tigers’ ODI skipper asked to Mashrafe. The latter wittily said, “He plays me as a pace bowler.”

He isn’t aware of what’s coming, says Mashrafe Mortaza

Tamim interrupted him and asked, “Doesn’t he understand that the small difference between your slower and faster deliveries?” Listening to it, Mashrafe, who played his last game as skipper against Zimbabwe, shook his head in agreement, bursting out in laughter.

Thereafter, Mashrafe said that the West Indies batsman takes him as any other bowler, and that’s where the pacer manages to cash in.

“Last time when he got out, he asked ‘why do I face troubles in smashing you?’ I said ‘you have a major problem. Mentally set yourself that my faster is 120 kmph and slower is 117 kmph, you can’t imagine by faster as 130 kmph and slower as 105 kmph. You can’t take me as any other bowler’.

“He has a problem in his mind setup. He plays me as a medium pace bowler, but isn’t aware of what’s coming,” the 36-year-old Mashrafe said.

Russell has been taking part in the BPL ever since the 2012 edition of the T20 tournament. Having played 44 matches for four different sides, Dre-Russ has stockpiled 751 runs at an average of 35.76 with a strike-rate of 165.41. Not to undermine his handy medium pace. After how he played last season, the Royals may not wish to let their skipper go.