Shields eyes comeback after Antigua camp invite

Jamaica fast bowler Ojay Shields has received a career-boosting invitation to attend a prestigious fast-bowling camp in Antigua from June 1-10 as Cricket West Indies (CWI) moves to sharpen its pace arsenal for upcoming international assignments.

The camp, to be conducted by former West Indies head coach Otis Gibson, will bring together the region’s most promising fast bowlers. 

Participants will work closely with CWI’s high-performance unit, including coaching, medical, sports science, and strength-and-conditioning personnel in a comprehensive setup aimed at preparing players for the rigours of international cricket.

The 30-year-old has already had a taste of the highest level. The right-armer made his Test debut for the West Indies against New Zealand last December, featuring in two Test matches in the series. He picked up five wickets at a bowling average of 35.20, modest figures but ones that hinted at his potential.

However, the regional season that followed proved challenging.

“The season was a very rough one, personally, but I think the team played good cricket throughout,” Shields said in a recent interview. 

“Unfortunately, we didn’t move on to the playoffs, but we’ll go back to the drawing board and see what’s next for us.”

Despite representing Jamaica in most of their games, Shields acknowledged that individual form eluded him, but the New Zealand tour left an indelible mark.

“I learned game management and how to manage myself even better. “Seeing that I would play Test cricket, it’s a level above First Class cricket. So my whole aim now is to look to relish any opportunity I could get playing cricket and stay as sharp as I can.”

With no immediate tournament on the horizon, Shields’ focus is unequivocal.

“The immediate focus is training. It’s just remedial work, sharpen up on my technique, and try to stay as consistent as possible.”

The Antigua camp could not come at a better time. Working under Gibson, a man known for extracting pace and discipline from raw talent, Shields hopes to catch the selector’s eye once more.

“For now, what I’m looking to do is just train, go back to training, do whatever I have to do, try my best to stay sharp,” he said. “Do what I have to do just to get back, just to try and catch the selector’s eye my way.”

For a player who has glimpsed the summit but slipped back into the shadows, the coming days in Antigua may well determine whether he becomes a footnote or a fixture in West Indies cricket.