Russell is currently writing a new book commissioned by Routledge due to be published in late 2017 entitled  “The State of British Cricket in Contemporary Life: The Declining Role of Cricket in the National Psyche”, which explores the contradiction between the improved performances of the England team, more especially in the Test Match format and the declining influence of and participation in the game at professional and recreational levels. Whilst focusing on the period 2005-2015, the book will consider the changing format and structure of the game from the early 1990’s in order to trace how the perception and administration of the game has altered its role and significance in society. At the moment Russell is conducting an extensive range of interviews with current and ex-players, cricket administrators, journalists and cultural historians