Getting hit for five sixes in an over was the toughest moment of my career: Sheldon Cottrell [Exclusive Interview]

Sheldon Cottrell is currently playing in the inaugural edition of the American Premier League (APL) 2023. He is representing the Premium Americans in the seven-team competition.

The left-arm pacer played two Tests, 38 ODIs, and 45 T20Is for the West Indies, picking two wickets in Test matches and 52 each in the two international white-ball formats. Cottrell's last international appearance came in March when he played in the third T20I against South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

During an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Cottrell, who played for the Punjab Kings in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), spoke about his aspirations of returning to the tournament in the future. The 34-year-old also said that he would like to play in next year's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

He noted that if he doesn't get picked for the marquee event, it could be the end of the road for him as far as international cricket is concerned. He also picked Rahul Tewatia hitting him for five sixes in an over during an IPL 2020 encounter between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings as the toughest moment of his career.

Excerpts:

You last played the IPL in 2020. Do you have any plans to come back?

Yeah, of course I mean any professional cricketer would love that chance to be in the IPL. I think it would be a big opportunity but honestly, right now I am playing in the American Premier League, so, that's where my focus is at the moment, but I do have an eye on IPL and hopefully I can get back there.

Mohammed Shami brought out your trademark 'Salute' celebration during the 2019 ODI World Cup. Would you like to tell us what happened that day?

I remember. Mohammed Shami is a great guy to be around. We played on the same team with Punjab at the time. I think it was all fun and all games. It was just the spirit of cricket. When he gave me the salute I smiled, to be honest. It was just all fun.

What is the reason behind the salute celebration?

I was in the Jamaica Defense Force, I was in the army back in Jamaica, so, I think it's fitting for an army man to be saluting. I did it once and I saw that it was taken well by the fans, especially my younger fans, which are the kids, and I continued that celebration, and I enjoy saluting, I enjoy putting a smile on a fan's face when I play.

What are your future plans?

Honestly, I just thought about it yesterday. In the next couple of months, I'll be 35. So, where international cricket is concerned, I have got just one last push until the World Cup next year in the Caribbean and the United States. If I am not there, I think that will be it where my international cricket career is concerned but there is a lot more cricket going on around in the world. But, if I am not a part of the T20 World Cup for next year, that will be it for where my international career is concerned.

West Indies won the ODI series against England and are doing well in the T20Is. Do you think this is the right time to make a comeback in ICC tournaments after recent debacles?

I think if you see, over the years, where West Indies cricket is concerned, I think our team is ever-developing. When you got a team that's developing, you are going to expect a few setbacks because of the inexperience. But I think now the team is gelling really well. Especially, in the England series and even the South Africa series before the England series, we did well also. But I think, now, the players are really gelling and you can see that on the field, they are putting all their effort and work on the field. But I think by the time T20 World Cup or any ICC tournament comes around, our team is gonna be a much better than you have seen in the past couple of years.

How good is the new two-bouncer-per-over rule in the IPL for the bowlers?

I mean, as you know, T20 is more of a batsman's game to be honest. Bringing in the two-bouncer rule it only can smell good for the bowlers where strategy is concerned. I mean, it can be a win for the bowlers, with the way these guys are batting. As a fast bowler, you have got to be ever-evolving, try to get ahead of the batters, which the batters are doing the same. I think the two-bumper rule is more of a positive move which can be a plus for the bowlers.

What has been the most memorable moment for you on the cricket field so far in your career?

My most memorable moment is taking that catch in the 2019 World Cup against Australia. Oshane Thomas bowled a short ball, Steve Smith flicked it down the leg-side. When I went to take that catch, I had no clue that I was going to catch it. I just put my hand out, I saw it stuck. I was going over the boundary so all I do is throw it up and back in. When I catch it, I mean the whole stadium got up. Even the Australian fans were excited about it, so, that was one of the greatest moments for me.

Tell us about the most challenging moment of your career and how you overcame it?

The most challenging moment was having the five sixes hit off my over by [Rahul] Tewatia. That was a challenging time as after that it was the online trolling. It was a bit funny but it took a while before I could go on Instagram or my social media platforms and not see anybody say anything about it. But I overcame that, I mean I am a soldier, so that's easy.