BELVOIR captain Mick Russell has dropped a bombshell by axing himself for the Eagles’ Cricket Albury-Wodonga Provincial preliminary final against Tallangatta.
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Russell has had a lean year with the bat, making just 110 runs at an average of 12.2 despite the Eagles’ on-field turnaround which saw them finish the home and away season in second place.
The right-handed batsman has come through the junior ranks at Kelly Park and said it was the hardest decision he made in his cricket career.
“I’m absolutely gutted – it was a very tough call to make,” he said.
“Ultimately, I have stood up in front of the troops for three years and preached how the club and the team have to come before the individual.
“If I can’t walk the talk, then words are empty aren’t they?
“I don’t know if many people love the club more than I do and I desperately want to play in a preliminary final and a grand final for the team that I captain.
“One thing I don’t think I am is a selfish sportsman and I would never ask someone to do something that I wouldn’t do myself.
“I can’t in good conscience look someone in the eye this week and say ‘you’re missing out’ when I’m clearly and significantly the most out-of-form batsman in our A grade squad.”
Russell made just one in Belvoir’s crushing loss to Wodonga in the first week of the finals but he wasn’t on his own as only four Eagles batsmen made double figures.
He rejected suggestions he should remain in the team just because he is captain.
“In my eyes, I don’t see it as not seeing it out, I just see it as the right thing to do,” he said.
“I hope it spurs us on to greater things.
“In a day and age of waning club loyalty, it’s something I really strongly believe in.
“I’ll be back at Belvoir next year in any grade that I’m picked in.
“I’ve got so much support at the club that no one would ever have asked me to do what I am doing.
“I love and appreciate the support I’ve got at the club but at the end of the day, it’s a decision that I’ve made completely on my own and I’ve made it because I think it’s the right one.”
Russell was confident the Eagles could turn around their fortunes against Tallangatta at Rowen Park.
“We’re coming from ninth last year so in anyone’s eyes that’s a big tick in the box in terms of improvement,” he said.
“We set ourselves the goal of playing finals and now we’re going to play week two of the finals.”
