SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) — Andre Russell can resume use of a black-coloured bat during the Big Bash League.

Cricket Australia (CA) said it had granted approval for the West Indies Twenty20 star to use a black-coloured bat after reviewing modifications made to the material covering the willow.

“Following feedback from the match officials that the bat used by Andre in the opening night of the season left black marks on the match ball, Andre has worked with his bat manufacturer to modify the bat,” said Head of the Big Bash Anthony Everard.

“A clear laminate cover has been applied to the bat which complies with regulations to ensure the ball discolouration does not occur again.

“We’re now satisfied that the bat will not compromise the integrity of the game by discolouring the match ball and we have granted approval for Andre to use the bat in any future BBL matches.”

Russell unveiled a black bat — a throwback to the Stanford Twenty20 Tournament in the Caribbean — for the opening match of the BBL against cross-town rivals Sydney Sixers last yesterday.

Complaints from the umpires and rivals in the game led CA to provisionally bar him from using the bat, which is trimmed with pink handle rubber and highlights, until the manufacturers can prevent it from leaving marks on the ball.

Before the start of the competition, Russell had permission to use a black bat under the rules, which stipulate it must be the same colour as the Club’s primary colour – or black.

Russell used a conventional bat during the Thunder’s second match last Thursday, when they lost to the Melbourne Renegades.

But bat-maker Spartan has worked with Russell to solve the problem with the black bat and he posted a video to his Instagram account showing the founder of the company giving a demonstration.