Hetmyer aims to and end flashy innings and bat longer

By Brandon Corlette

Shimron Hetmyer is regarded as one of the most talented batsmen in the region. This batting maestro is more determined than ever to bat for longer periods and end those flashy innings. After stroking a classy 149 from 256 balls in the Guyana Harpy Eagles trial match at Albion last week, Hetmyer spoke about his new and improved approach to batting.

“I just go out there and try to bat as long as I possibly can, and try to help my team to win in whatever way possible. I try to accumulate, and just to be there as long as possible. It is really something I am trying to bring into my game, instead of playing that flashy innings and just batting a couple of balls.
“(Again), I just try to be there as long as possible, and just help my team. Even if we cannot win it, I can try to draw it. That is basically along the lines I am thinking right now,” Hetmyer disclosed.
Hetmyer, who was left out of the West Indies squad for the ongoing Ireland series due to fitness issues, displayed great skill in his stroke-play and running between the wickets during that 300-minute knock of 149 at Albion last week. That trial match will be used to select the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the upcoming Regional 4-Day tournament in February, and also marked the return for Hetmyer in red-ball cricket.

“As it is, I am just trying to do as much running as I can. As for the past few years, I was not really part of red-ball cricket for a while now, so I am just trying to get back into it, you know, just try to accumulate and bat at the crease and stay at the crease for as long as possible,” he explained.
“So far, it has been fun actually. I really enjoyed playing red-ball cricket with good friends and so on. Good friends on the field always help you to focus a little bit more. Instead of thinking of the sun and the heat and stuff, you try to enjoy it as much as possible, and get some good camaraderie out of it as well,” Hetmyer explained.
The man who enjoys the luxury of playing in the Indian Premier League also had some advice for youngsters: “First of all, don’t think about the money; that is the worst thing you can do. Just play the game for enjoyment, enjoy it as much as possible, and make friends along the way.”
At 25 years old, Hetmyer has played 16 Test matches, with his last being played in November 2019. He has scored 838 runs, with five fifties and a high-score of 93, averaging 27.93. In his One Day International career, Hetmyer has scored 1447 runs at an average of 35.29. He has a stellar strike-rate of 106.39, with five centuries and four half-centuries.
In his T20I career, Hetmyer has scored 66 runs, with three fifties, averaging 21.48, with a high-score of 81. He was also the leading run-scorer for the West Indies at the 2021 T20 World Cup. In his First-class career, he has played 39 matches and accumulated 2125 runs at an average of 31.71. He has one First-class century and 12 fifties.