Kingston, Jamaica – Fast bowler Sheldon Cotterell is out to show what he learned at the Sagicor West Indies High Performance Centre. The strongly-built left-arm quick was the stand-out bowler in this year’s West Indies Cricket Board developmental programme and the aim is to transfer that new found confidence and know-how into the forthcoming regional season.
He starts with the Caribbean T20 – which runs from January 6 to 20.
“The year was a wonderful year for me,” he said. “I learned a lot about fast bowling. I worked really hard with the coaches at the Sagicor WIHPC and I got a lot of knowledge.
“I worked with Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, I also worked with Graeme West and Andre Coley, the two coaches at the Sagicor WIHPC, and they did a lot of work on my run-up and that helped to get my run-up much smoother.”
He added: “The intensity was always high and my preparation was really where it had to be.
“I would say I brought my military training into my cricket – that discipline and that readiness. In cricket, I bring that same attitude. I feel so free and relaxed. I just want to go out and do my best for Jamaica.”
The 23-year-old is a member of the Jamaica Defence Force. He is hoping to soldier a lot of responsibility when he suits up for his homeland in the CT20.
Cotterell is also hoping to get a look-in during the Regional Super50, as well as help the five-time defending champions win the Regional 4-day Tournament for a record sixth straight year.
“To be honest, I want to ‘have a go’,” he said. “I really want to play and I want the new ball…I want to make an impact.
“That’s my intention, that’s my goal for the CT20, and after that, I’m looking to show what I’m made of in the 50-overs and the first-class season as well.”
He said: “I’m going in fit and ready. I’ve been hitting all the areas the coaches have asked me to hit. I’m ready. When they call I’m ready to answer the call.
“Batsmen should prepare for a much more relaxed and a much more confident Sheldon Cotterell. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and my time will come, I’m sure.”
Jamaica start the CT20 with a showdown against defending champions Trinidad & Tobago on January 6 under the lights at the Queen’s Park Oval. The two teams met in last year’s final, when T&T were easy winners by 63 runs at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The Jamaicans will continue their preparations this week with training sessions and warm-up matches at Sabina Park in Kingston before travelling to Trinidad next week.
FULL SQUADS
Barbados: Dwayne Smith (Captain), Shamarh Brooks (Vice Captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Carlos Brathwaite, Justin Brathwaite, , Jonathan Carter, Rolston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Kyle Mayers, Ashley Nurse, Javon Searles,.
Combined Campuses & Colleges: Kyle Corbin (Captain), Sunil Ambris, Ryan Austin, Derone Davis, Akeem Dewar, Jason Holder, Kevin McClean, Wayne Morgan, Kristopher Ramsaran, Floyd Reifer, Raymon Reifer, Chadwick Walton, Ryan Wiggins, Kesrick Williams.
Guyana: Veerasammy Permaul (Captain), Christopher Barnwell (Vice Captain), Ronsford Beaton, Devendra Bishoo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Derwin Christian, Royston Crandon, Narsingh Deonarine, Jonathan Foo, Trevon Griffith, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Rajiv Ivan, Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Jamaica: Tamar Lambert (Captain), David Bernard Jr. (Vice Captain) Nkrumah Bonner, Odean Brown, John Campbell, Sheldon Cotterell, Yannick Elliott, Danza Hyatt, Andre McCarthy, Jamie Merchant, Nikita Miller, Andre Russell, Krishmar Santokie, Aldane Thomas.
Leeward Islands: Sylvester Joseph (Captain), Kieran Powell (Vice Captain), Justin Athanaze, Shane Burton, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Chesney Hughes, Javia Liburd, Anthony Martin, Lyndel Richardson, Garvin Tonge, Devon Thomas, Kelbert Walters, Tonito Willett.
Trinidad & Tobago: Denesh Ramdin (Captain), Darren Bravo (Vice Captain), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Yannick Ottley, Evin Lewis, William Perkins, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Lendl Simmons.
Windward Islands: Darren Sammy (Captain), Miles Bascombe, Tade Carmichael, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Lyndon James, Delorn Johnson, Keddy Lesporis, Garey Mathurin, Kenroy Peters, Nelon Pascal, Liam Sebastien, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(AT QUEEN’S PARK OVAL, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad)
Sunday, January 6
Opening Ceremony – 4 p.m.
Trinidad & Tobago vs Jamaica – 8 p.m.
Monday, January 7
Barbados vs Leeward Islands – 4 p.m.
Guyana vs Combined Campuses & Colleges – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, January 8
Jamaica vs Barbados – 4 p.m.
Trinidad & Tobago vs Combined Campuses & Colleges – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, January 9
Windward Islands vs Jamaica – 4 p.m.
Trinidad & Tobago vs Leeward Islands – 8 p.m.
Thursday, January 10
Combined Campuses & Colleges vs Windward Islands – 4 p.m.
Guyana vs Barbados – 8 p.m.
Friday, January 11
Leeward Islands vs Jamaica – 4 p.m.
Combined Campuses & Colleges vs Barbados – 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 12
Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – 4 p.m.
Trinidad & Tobago vs Guyana – 8 p.m.
(AT BEAUSEJOUR CRICKET GROUND, Gros Islet, St. Lucia)
Tuesday, January 15
Guyana vs Jamaica – 4 p.m.
Windward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, January 16
Combined Campuses & Colleges vs Leeward Islands – 4 p.m.
Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago – 8 p.m.
Thursday, January 17
Leeward Islands vs Guyana – 4 p.m.
Windward Islands vs Barbados – 8 p.m.
Friday, January 18
Combined Campuses & Colleges vs Jamaica – 4 p.m.
Windward Islands vs Guyana – 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 19
Play-off: 2nd Place vs 3rd Place – 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 20
Grand Final: 1st Place vs Winner of Play-off – 8 p.m.