West Indies player Rahkeem Cornwall instantly became a fan favourite when he made his Test debut last year. The 6 foot 6 inches tall and 140 kgs Cornwall played his first Test last year against India. Even though his side lost the match, it was a memorable Test match for Cornwall.
His maiden scalp was a big one as he dismissed the rock of Indian batting; Cheteshwar Pujara. The off-spinner also got the wickets of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. Cornwall still remembers the modes of dismissals of each batsman and cherishes those moments.
Kohli invited me to bowl – Rahkeem
“That was in a President’s XI game in St Kitts. I got a five-wicket haul in that game as well. I got Kohli lbw and Rahane caught bat-pad. They were basic off-spin deliveries with just a little bit of bounce. I also got Pujara bowled in that match he was attempting a sweep shot,” said the 27-year-old while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.
Cornwall recalled the breakthrough moment of his career when Kohli himself asked him to bowl in the nets. After he had bowled at the India batsmen during a warm-up match, the Indian skipper invited him to bowl at them again in the nets. Cornwall understands his strengths and limitations as a player and always looks to improve himself.
He added, “I see it as a breakthrough moment for me where one of the best batsmen in the world is asking for me to come to bowl to him in the nets. You learn a lot. A lot of patience, as a bowler stick to line and length consistently rather than being all over the place.”
Rahkeem Cornwall is part of the West Indies team that will play the three-match Test series against England starting from July 8. He was been training and practising his skills along with the entire team at Manchester. In the two Test matches that he has played in his career, he has picked 13 wickets. He picked a 10 wicket haul against Afghanistan last year in a Test match.
