SHERFANE RUTHERFORD: Anticipating an improved CPL season for the Guyana Amazon Warriors

– says Warriors will “work hard” to lift CPL Championship Trophy

By Timothy Jaikarran

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) will, in this 2020 Hero CPL T20 tournament, “be in the hunt” for their first ever Trophy, having heartbreakingly lost out in the 2019 finals to eventual champions the Barbados Tridents.

In an exclusive sit-down with Guyana Times Sport, the GAW’s hard hitting left-handed batsman Sherfane Rutherford replied to questions on a range of issues, and ended by assuring the Warriors’ fans that the team would be “working hard” to bring home the trophy this time around .

Sherfane Rutherford is one of ‘the next generation’ of West Indian players. He made his mark in the 2018 tournament of Global T20 Canada, where, despite his team losing the finals, he ended the tournament as the third leading run-scorer, racking up 230 runs in eight innings at an outstanding strike rate of 173.
He soon after became an instant hero for Guyana Amazon Warriors at CPL 2018, his debut season, when he scored 171 runs at an average of nearly 35, and produced a strike rate of over 140. In 2019, he scored 118 runs batting in only six of the twelve games, but he recorded an impressive strike rate of 140.5, and an average of 23.6.
He played for the Delhi Capitals in the last season of IPL, but has currently been traded to the Mumbai Indians.
Q: What is the atmosphere like at the moment with CPL being played during the pandemic?
A: First of all, I must thank God for life. right now, we are under quarantine, the most we can do is work out in our rooms, which is a bit difficult because you can’t go outside to train, but only go on the verandah to look out. For me, I am just trying ways of planning my tournament, or thinking of things I want to do in the tournament for myself and the team.
Q: How is your workout coming along, as you guys are confined to your room?
A: Well, our trainer sends us a lot of workout, so we can do (it) in our room. we do a lot of core workouts, such as abdominals, squats, push-ups etc. I think the workout and in-room stuff is very basic; it’s not taxing, so we can do it and still be relaxed and be active.
Q: What are some of the goals you hope to achieve with the Warriors this year?
A: My first(goal) is to play in all of the games, and my second is to finish games. Over the years, I have been hearing that I have to finish games, so that’s my biggest aim: to finish games this tournament. I think (that) given the opportunity, I will look to win more games, because that is my role in batting at number 6 or 7. So that is mainly my goal for this year.
Q: Will the lack of crowds be a mental factor for you?
A: Well, it’s all about adapting. We know there is a pandemic, and people can’t come to the grounds. The crowds usually give us that push, but I think this year we will have to rely on the players on the field, the coaching staff, and those off the field as well, who are not participating.
We can’t do much with what is going on, but we just have to be thankful that the main thing is we are having cricket, and we will receive our support from our supporters who will be watching us on television.
Q: Once cleared to play, will that be a setback for you, considering the first match is just a matter of days away?
A: I think preparation has to start from home, so when we hit the field, we just have to do some light topping up. Wednesday is our first training session, most of the guys are in good shape, so it’s just (for them) to get into that mode and execute what they came to do.
Q: What’s one thing you want to say to the Warriors’ fans?
A: Most of them, or all of them, will be looking forward for us to win. Every year we have given them hope that we are going to win, but this year we are going to win. I can promise that we are going to win it just for the fans.