By Elroy Stephney

HE is highly ambitious, intelligent and has an insatiable appetite for the sport he loves dearly. The quiet-spoken yet affable Sheldon Charles was born in Region No. One in the village of Kariaku, Barama River before migrating to Region 2 where he now resides at Lima on the Essequibo Coast.
The Form Three student of Anna Regina Secondary plans to attend the University of Guyana to become a mechanical engineer. But for now, he is seriously devoted towards enhancing his skills as he dreams of playing cricket at the highest level. He was recently appointed captain of the Essequibo Under-15 team to become the first cricketer of Amerindian descent to be at the helm of the team.
While this is a significant achievement, the elegant batting all-rounder, who represented Guyana at the Under-15 level last year in Grenada, is focused on more success, as he is in the form of his life.
Charles registered impressive back-to-back centuries of 102 not out and 149 during the recently held trial matches that were organised by the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB).
The national Youth all-rounder has also recorded seven half-centuries during his emerging career. He attributed his fine form to being engaged in daily intense physical training, simulation exercises, practice sessions and the constant motivation he receives from his two brothers including Zavier McDonald who was a former national Under-15 fast bowler.
While Charles had a moderate inter- county tournament, he topped the batting aggregate for his team. He also plays senior division cricket for Gunners Sports Club where he has already made a delightful impression as a quality player.
It was no coincidence therefore that he named Australian Steve Smith and India’s Virat Kohli as his favourite cricketers. It is those inherent qualities which those two great batsmen possess that have inspired him to believe in his ability and to set high standards for himself.
Charles is now hoping to retain his place on the national team, having played three matches during last year’s tournament. Thereafter he intends to firmly build on such foundation and to secure a place on the national Under-17 team as well.
With such aspirations and his ambition to represent Guyana at the senior level too, the sky is the limit for the talented cricketer. Charles is only the third player from the Amerindian community to have represented Guyana after Lance Roberts who played last year with him and Mark Gonsalves who did so at the Under-17 level.
He is also the first to achieve the feat as a resident of Region No.1. He is also the youngest Essequibian to play at the national youth level and will become the first to play in back-to-back national Under-15 tournaments should he do so this year.
The budding all-rounder also acknowledged that Essequibo’s cricket can rise above the ashes of the past given the abundance of potential in almost every corner of the region, including in the Amerindian communities.
Charles’ rapidly growing reputation will no doubt send chilling fears to any opposition, but he is not distracted and is now focused on building a successful career as a professional cricketer.