Shepherd hoping to achieve ‘all-rounder’ status this CPL

By Jemima Holmes

Romario Shepherd has been a staple in the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ bowling department since 2018, and at times has shown glimpses of what he can do with the bat.
In 2019, Shepherd arguably had his best year at the CPL, racking up 13 wickets in 10 games, with best figures of 4/13. He caught the eyes of Cricket West Indies selectors.

Now, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shepherd has remained consistent, making it into several West Indies tours since his last “Biggest Party in Sport” outing.
In an exclusive sit down with <<Guyana Times Sport>> prior to the team’s departure for St. Kitts and Nevis, Shepherd not only shared his expectations for this year’s 9th edition of the regional franchise tournament, but opened up about missing his family while on tour.
“I’m always excited (to represent) Guyana, especially in the Hero CPL. It’s “The Biggest Party in Sport”, so it’s always fun going out there, representing your country,” a smiling Shepherd told this publication.
The right arm fast-medium is coming off his most recent stint with the West Indies Senior team in their T20I series against Pakistan. About his time with the Men in Maroon, Shepherd highlighted that it is always a learning experience.
“Well, obviously, in the West Indies team, being around the senior guys, the guys that went around the globe playing, they understand the game, so you try to take as much as possible, whenever you’re around those guys,” the Berbician cricketer stated.

He added, “The Bravos, the Russells and guys like that, you pick their brains a lot. You ask them questions to get information like what to expect in certain situations and stuff like that,” he said.
With the beginning of CPL only days away, the Guyanese cricketer has a few achievable goals, the most prominent of which is solidifying his status as an ‘all-rounder’ in the Amazon Warriors team.
Noting that this can come only by perfecting his batting, Shepherd said, “I’ve been working very hard on my batting, trying to get that all-round status. You know, that mobility where I can contribute with bat in the team.
“So, that’s something I’ve been working on, hard, over the years and its coming through. So, I’m thankful and just hoping I can pull off some wins for us with the bat during this year’s CPL.”
For the 26-year-old, CPL 2020 was a bit strange without the Caribbean’s highly animated fans.
On this topic, he related, “Last year was pretty strange, Hero CPL with no fans; and this year, you know it improved a little, where you have a small percentage of fans in the stands cheering you on, so it will be better than last year, more enjoyable obviously.
“Over the past two years, I’ve played in like 7 games where there were no fans, and I was involved in a lot of games where they were no fans, so it’s a different feeling. We’re all trying to catch up with it.”
What has been a comforting for Shepherd, though, is the belief that Guyanese would be present at Warner Park when it’s gates are open to the avid cricket fans.
“And you know we Guyanese have a lot of supporters around the Caribbean! So, I’m sure there will be a lot of Guyanese in the crowd,” he shared with a laugh.
Touching on the difference between fans being present and those watching at home from around the world, Shepherd admitted that the screams and cheers are sometimes the best motivation.
He commented, “It motivates you in a kind of way, knowing that there’re people who expecting stuff from you in the stands. Mind you, we all know that people expect from you around the world; there’re millions watching, but it’s not the same when they’re next to you and you can hear their voices screaming.”
Whether on or off the field, batting or bowling, Romario Shepherd is a father first. Hence being away from his family is a bit tough for the Guyanese cricketer.
“I always miss my family, no matter what; because they motivate me more than anything, they give me that push. And, you know, just being around them is a plus for me.”
He continued, “Not being around them, it definitely will take a toll on you. Being in a bubble also, so I’ll miss them a lot.”