Before starting his cricket career, he stated in an interview that he was once a soldier of Jamaica Defence Force and that's the reason that Sheldon Cottrell performs salutes or tributes as a sign of celebration most of the time whenever he gets any of the wickets, in a perfect military style.
Career
In first class cricket, Cottrell plays for Leeward Islands. He made his Test Debut in November 2013 against India at Eden Gardens, Calcutta in the penultimate Test of Sachin Tendulkar.[1] He is known to march and salute to the pavilion followed by opening his arms to the heavens (formerly a dab) after every wicket as he is a Jamaica Defence Force soldier, and was among the army workforce manning the pitch during the fifth ODI against India at Sabina Park in 2011.[2][3]
He made his T20I debut against England in March 2014. He made his One Day International debut for the West Indies against South Africa on 25 January 2015.[4] Cottrell was a part of the 2015 West Indies World Cup squad, and returned to the ODI side on 23 December 2017 against New Zealand after a 2-year absence.
In May 2018, he was selected to play for the Leeward Islands national cricket team in the Professional Cricket League draft, ahead of the 2018–19 season.[5][6] On 3 June 2018, he was selected to play for the Vancouver Knights in the players' draft for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament.[7][8] He was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with sixteen dismissals in eight matches.[9]