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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[15][16] In September 2021, Cottrell was named as one of four reserve players in the West Indies' squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.