West Indies vs ICC World XI: 5 player battles to look out for

#3 Andre Russell vs Shahid Afridi

The T20 contest at Lord's on Thursday will be a highly significant one for all-rounder Andre Russell who will be making his return to international cricket for the first time since he was banned for a doping-code violation in January 2017.

Russell batted well in the IPL without being terrific and it is no secret that he prefers to face the fast bowlers than spinners when he is out in the middle.

World XI skipper Shahid Afridi will no doubt be aware of this fact and is likely to take the responsibility on his own shoulders in order to provide a certain level of uncertainty for the big-hitting West Indian.

Afridi might not turn the ball much but he has the ability to get the ball under the bat and for someone who plays cross-batted, it is a very good quality to possess.

The two could have a face off on the other side of the equation as well with Afridi facing off against Russell as has been the case many times in the past in the Carribean Premier League and the Big Bash and it promises to be yet another intriguing contest between the two all-rounders.