“Being a father is the best thing that has happened to me”

-Sherfane Rutherford says as he reflects on 2022

By Brandon Corlette

Twenty-four-year-old explosive Guyana and West Indies player Sherfane Rutherford has had a mixed year in 2022, the highlight of which, for this youngster, has been his transition to becoming a father. In an exclusive interview with this daily publication, Rutherford reflected on his year, spoke about plans to spend Christmas with his family, and disclosed that playing again for the West Indies is the ultimate goal of his career.
“I must thank God for the year, and 2022 on the cricket field was not so good. There is room for improvement, always room for better. I am still thankful for the opportunities. My biggest constraint is being consistent. I am working on that. Whatever I have done this year (in cricket) would never be enough. I want to be better with performances, and it is a learning process for me,” he declared.
“It has been good, I won’t complain too much, it is time for me to learn and add those missing plates, and get myself together. It is time for me to learn, and learn fast,” Rutherford said.

Speaking about fatherhood and Christmas plans, this left-handed batsman, who bowls brisk right-arm seam, described fatherhood as the best thing that has happened to him in 2022.
“Being a father is the best thing (that has happened to me). Cricket has done a lot for me, but being a father is beyond (what cricket can do for me), and I am enjoying it. There is so much of things I can say in being a father, but fatherhood makes me a better person, helps me to be more humble and wiser. For me, being a father is special. Every day I look at my son and it is hard to believe that I actually bring forth someone. I love him, and I love every moment (we are together),” he disclosed.
“I will be spending Christmas with him, so I will have the best Christmas. I have my son, and I am home, so I am looking forward to have some fun,” Rutherford explained.

Returning to Guyana
Rutherford, who spends a lot of time in the United States of America, returned to Guyana earlier this year to play for Demerara in the senior inter-county tournament. He was in the USA with his son, and he took the first flight back to Guyana to get a crack at the inter-county. Rutherford also noted that playing 50-over cricket is on his radar.
“This was my first time playing inter-county. It is the root, where it all started for a senior call-up, and I was excited and overwhelmed to get back home and have a taste. It was good that we have inter-county, and it is something I will make the time for. 50-over cricket is in my plan, and I want to get back into some longer-format cricket,” Rutherford explained.

Eager for WI return
Hailing from Enmore, East Coast Demerara, Rutherford has said that playing for West Indies is his ultimate goal. He disclosed that playing T20 leagues has aided in his personal development, but he is eager to wear the maroon colours again.
Rutherford, who won the Caribbean Premier’s League 6IXTY with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, said: “Playing T20 leagues has always been a norm for me. It is after four years I played inter-county and List A cricket, so it shows that I have not been around; and T20, for me, has made me become a better player. Going around and playing so much leagues, I learn a lot. I learn most of my cricket from playing leagues. I am thankful and grateful for T20 leagues, but I am eager and interested in playing for West Indies. It is my ultimate goal, so I am working on it. Steady performance would make the way for me. I am trying to be more consistent, scoring runs, and even bowling and take wickets, so I can get back into the West Indies team. It is the ultimate goal. I want to play for the West Indies, I think I can add some flair and difference in the team. By the grace of God, I hope it comes through very soon,” this Guyanese cricketer has said.
An explosive batsman, Rutherford went unsold at the IPL Auction, but is billed to play a host of T20 leagues in 2023. He will play for Desert Vipers in the ILT20 starting next month in the United Arab Emirates.