Hope hails Shepherd for consistency in New Zealand

After the five-match T20I series where the West Indies lost to New Zealand 3-1, Guyanese Romario Shepherd was a standout performer in both departments. He scored 128 runs at an average of 42, and he picked up four wickets at an average of 27.

The West Indies captain at the post-match spoke highly of Shepherd and described him as a student of the game who remains hungry for success.
“Shepherd has been a hard worker. He has been very detailed about his preparation. He does a lot of research, so it’s great to see his success coming more consistently. He has been really good with the ball, picking up crucial wickets. So many positives from his side. I am glad to see him being consistent and gaining that confidence he has been lacking, especially with the ball,” Hope said.
The West Indies were shot out for 140 in 18.4 overs, and they were always behind the eight-ball. Hope was hoping that his bowlers could have put the Black Caps under pressure in the powerplay, but it could not materialise. “We just wanted to make sure we were putting in good bowling under pressure, not allowing them to settle in the powerplay.
It didn’t really work out this time, but it’s something for us to focus on going forward. Must give credit to the guys in the lower half for putting their hands up throughout the series,” Hope explained.
The West Indies captain also lamented the lack of preparation his team had while acclimatising in New Zealand.
“It’s one of those places where you need good preparation, something we didn’t have. It’s not an excuse, but it certainly would help in conditions like these. It’s not familiar conditions that we face back home. Going to take learnings from this series. Sure, the conditions will be similar in ODIs. Just got to ensure we’re learning quickly, especially from a batting perspective,” Hope revealed.
The first ODI between the West Indies and New Zealand bowls off on Saturday, November 15, at 21:00h local time.