A KNOCK on the door interrupts our conversation "It's all right," Jack Russell says on return. "Only the cleaner." A productive artistic winter often begins with a knock on the door. In Zimbabwe and New Zealand a year ago, Russell had enough free time to fill the walls of his Gloucestershire gallery, except that 19 of his 20 oil paintings sold within 48 hours of his return. The 20th was doubtless tagged by David Lloyd, the England coach, conscience money for another lost cricketing sojourn. Russell has been waiting for the knock this past fortnight But when it came, the news was good. "Put away your brushes, Jack, come and play some cricket." It did not take long for those cussed old qualities to surface.
Tight bowling, a dodgy pitch and his side in strife on the opening day of the tour's first match. Five down and out saunters Russell, shirt flapping like a pillow case, head jutting, pugnacity personified. The Australians were delighted not to have to scratch that little itch last summer.The West Indians might not be so lucky. Though an England line-up with Adam Hollioake at No 7 looks temptingly secure, the selectors are returning to basics The Caribbean is not an easy place for wicketkeepers. Russell should be back for his 50th Test, at Sabina Park next week.Russell's calling card says "wicketkeeper/batsman" these days and with 1,000 runs to his name last season, the description is more accurate than many presume "That was batting at No 7 for Gloucestershire," he says.
"Not much chance to make big runs there so you have to be consistent." Stung by his omission and by a well-publicised philosophical difference with the English Cricket Board over his autobiography, Russell nursed his grievance up and down the counties "My target was to play against the Australians I failed in that, so my next target was to get on the tour. Now I want to get back in the Test team."He is 34 and having waited 17 months so far to reach his milestone is developing an immunity to selectorial whim. "It's still tough to accept when you get left out on tour because I want to play all the time, but I'm getting better at dealing with it now That's where my painting helps. When I'm painting, I'm in my own little world and I can forget about everything else. Without my painting last winter, I would have gone completely potty." That will be news to his England colleagues, who regard him as mildly barking already Russell's unorthodox eating habits are the source of legend.
His latest Zone Diet, originally adopted by Michelle Smith, involves eating four parts carbohydrate to three parts protein and dropping his intake of tea from 25 cups a day to 10. Well, if it's good enough for a three time Olympic champion... Like all true eccentrics, Russell regards himself as entirely normal. But there is no doubting the confidence his other profession has fostered."I don't have to play cricket any more," he says "I can play because I really enjoy it Once the commitment has gone, I can go away and paint. I feel mentally tougher and much of that comes from my business I've learnt how to stand my ground in doing a deal. It's a rat race out there and nice guys come second."Russell is preparing himself assiduously for a full Test series, for the five-star buffeting traditionally reserved for him by his Gloucestershire team-mate Courtney Walsh.