Left-arm pacer Sheldon Cotterell, who is among three Jamaicans selected for the Sagicor High Performance Centre (HPC) academy programme, said he feels privileged to be given the chance to further his development.

The 23-year-old, along with speedster Jason Dawes and all-rounder Jermaine Blackwood, left the island last week for Barbados to participate in the second edition of the programme and the strongly-built pacer is looking forward to excel.

“It’s a privilege being a part of the academy and I’m happy that my hard work has been seen out there for me to be picked.

“I consider myself one of the more fortunate fastbowlers in the region because I’m getting the chance to work with advanced equipment and spend time with new coaches and hopefully I can learn new things to improve my game. I’m very excited,” he told the Jamaica Observer after competing in the recent Ultimate Cricket Bash II festival the Melbourne Oval.

The academy programme is aimed at working with youngsters, while exposing them to advanced mental and physical training regimes so as to develop potential representatives for the West Indies.

Two Jamaicans — Nkrumah Bonner and Andre Creary — were enrolled in the HPC when it was started in 2010.

Though not always consistent with his accuracy, Cotterell was a solid performer in Jamaica’s successful quest for five straight titles in the regional four-day competition.

Playing his first full season of first- class cricket he took 14 wickets in seven matches at a good average of 26.35.

The former Penwood High student, who represents the Jamaica Defence Force on the local club circuit, is aware that he has much to improve on and sees the HPC as a window for growth.

“I’m trying to bring a good form into the HPC. In the (four-day) season that just ended I did pretty well, but I could have done a little better. I need to do some work on getting my (bowling) run-up right. I also think I need to work on my line and length,” he said.