 While the opening few years of the 20th century proved a goldmine for Russell, a consistent batsman amongst a number of inconsistent players, he would not reach the dizzy heights of his three century innings in the second half of his career that he did in the first, making a top score in his final five seasons of just 54 and moving, towards the end of his career, back to the tailend of the Essex batting line-up where he spent occasional matches in his early years at the club.Essex finished second-bottom of the County Championship table during the 1904 season.Russell's final season as an Essex player was a benefit season, in which he played one match, a heavy defeat at the hands of Surrey.