Jamaica’s Shields eager for opportunity following Test call-up

A new chapter is set to begin for Jamaican fast bowler Ojay Shields, whose dream of representing the West Indies at the highest level has been realised with his selection in the Test squad to face New Zealand.

Many pundits would not readily jump at the name OJ Shields, but the 29-year-old physical education teacher, who plies his trade for Jamaica in the regional first-class circuit, was one of nine players who impressed selectors during a recent two-week high-performance camp in Antigua.

It was his raw pace that ultimately prompted the call-up, offering a fresh weapon to the Windies’ bowling attack that is expected to be handy on the green, bouncy New Zealand tracks.

For Shields, the moment he received the news was one of overwhelming joy, tinged with a hint of frustration.

“When I first got the call, I was very, very happy because this is the whole reason we play the regional tournaments in the Caribbean, to represent the West Indies at the highest level,” Shields said. “So I think this is an enormous feat for me.”

However, the celebration was momentarily solitary. “There was a little bitter-sweet moment after a few minutes because I was at a training camp before Hurricane Melissa hit the island, so I couldn’t get to speak to my family to give them the good news.”

Now that his family is aware and firmly behind him, the focus for the right-arm pacer is singular, and that is to deliver if given the chance.

Shields, who has taken 34 wickets in 16 first-class games at an average of 37.08, plans to keep his approach simple.

“For me, I try my best not to complicate situations. So my plan is simple. If given a chance in the final 11, go and do what I did to get to this level. Hit my lengths as hard and as consistently as possible, use my pace to my advantage, and hopefully pick up some wickets and give myself a proper announcement to international cricket.”

West Indies coach Daren Sammy confirmed that Shields has long been on the selection radar. With a couple of key fast bowlers currently injured, the team identified a specific need for genuine pace, and Shields fits the bill perfectly.

“He has always been one in our depth chart. When we look at fast bowlers, there are a couple of disciplines we look at, obviously, pace, control, and stuff like that. We needed that person who could bowl that 85-plus miles per hour. Ojay Shields is one of the few people who actually do that in the Caribbean,” Sammy said.

Sammy acknowledged that while Shields is “raw in terms of being selected,” his attributes and potential were too compelling to ignore.

“When you look at the quality batters that we will be up against in New Zealand, we want a bowler that will give them some trouble, and we believe OJ can deliver that for us.”