Tucber Park congratulates Shepherd on maiden ODI call-up
Enhancing the already outstanding legacy of the Tucber Park Cricket Club in New Amsterdam, impressive fast-bowler Romario Shepherd has earned a call-up to West Indies ODI Cricket Team duty.
Carl Moore had spotted the talent of Romario Shepherd since Shepherd was playing under-15 school cricket
Shepherd is the first player from the Tucber Park Cricket Club to have achieved this honour, and now joins West Indies female players Candacy Atkins and Tremayne Smartt as Berbician cricketers who have been so distinguished of late.
Shepherd started his cricket career at this club in 2008 during his under-15 days, when the club was led by Carl Moore, an outstanding former cricket administrator in Guyana. The club is now being led by Carl Moore’s son Julian, who has heartily congratulated this proverbial work horse on his selection for West Indies duty.
Guyana Times Sport spoke with Carl Moore, who now resides abroad, and was told the following: “On Shepherd’s selection, I am very overjoyed that Romario has meet the pinnacle of cricket (in) making the West Indies team. I hope his selection will encourage other youngsters to put in the hard work that he has been doing, and it will pay off”.
Carl Moore explained that Shepherd’s journey in cricket began from the school level.
“He played a school match, and we invited him to come out at Tucber Park; and since then, he has been plying his trade. Shepherd is a good example of someone who puts in the hard work in his game. from ‘Under-15’ to now, his dedication is admirable”.
Moore highlighted: “Shepherd has been putting in consistent performances for the club; but what I can recall was his performance in a T20 Final at Albion, where he took away the first three wickets in a short time”.
In 22 first class matches representing Guyana Jaguars and West Indies ‘A’ teams, Shepherd has taken 70 wickets at a staggering average of 23.71. He has twice taken five-wicket hauls, with a best of 5-24.
During the 2018/19 Regional 4-Day season, Shepherd took 37 wickets, the most by any fast bowler in the Caribbean in that season.
Shepherd took 13 wickets in CPL 2019, and overall has taken 17 wickets in 13 T20 matches at an average of 19.70. He has a best bowling figure of 4-13, which he took against Barbados Tridents. In his ‘List A’ career, Shepherd has taken 31 wickets in 22 matches with an economy rate of 5.33 and an average of 24.93.
The 24-year-old Shepherd has also proven himself useful with the bat, having three first class half-centuries to his credit. (Brandon Corlette)
