Big Bash: West Indian star Andre Russell has joined the Melbourne Stars

A second international signing in two days could help the Melbourne Stars rebound from a horror BBL opener

Andre Russell playing for the Sydney Thunder (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

West Indian superstar Andre Russell has been locked in for five games with the Melbourne Stars starting on Friday at the MCG.

Russell, who flew to Sydney after scoring a stunning 90 not out off just 32 balls to propel his Deccan Gladiators to the Abu Dhabi T10 title, is completing 72 hours quarantine and will get special treatment in his first outing for his third BBL team.

It’s understood Russell, who has played for both the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades, will get a separate dressing room to his teammates to help Cricket Australia sign off on his availability for Stars’ first home game of the summer.

His signing comes after the Stars also secured Pakistan quick Haris Rauf, who will join the team after Christmas, and following a record-loss to the Sydney Sixers in the opening match of the BBL last Sunday.

Dre Russ is a Star 👑#TeamGreen

— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) December 8, 2021

“To have someone of Andre‘s quality play for the Melbourne Stars is a huge signing for our club,” Stars coach David Hussey said.

“We want our Stars family to watch the best players in action at the MCG and Andre is world class. I can’t wait to work with him in the time that he’s here and look forward to his debut on Friday night.”

Russell, who represented the West Indies in the ICC T20 Men‘s World Cup in the UAE, has played almost 400 T20 games around the world, taking 343 wickets and playing some explosive innings with the bat.

The Stars could also regain all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for Friday’s clash with the Thunder at the MCG.