Having made his international debut last year, West Indies Test and St. Lucia Zouks all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall says he is keen on making use of opportunities in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the domestic circuit to take his game to the next level.
Antiguan-born Cornwall told Indiatoday on Aug. 23 that after realizing his dream of playing Test cricket for the West Indies last year, he is now eying playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other T20 leagues around the world.
“Well, that’s my aim,” he said. “CPL is just a kickstart, I think I have to continue putting in performances to make sure other franchises look in my direction, and I just have to make sure I am ready when that opportunity comes.”
An integral member of the St. Lucia Zouks side in the CPL, Cornwall, who stands at 6’ 5”, is no stranger to dreaming big, according to Indiatoday.
“Having fallen in love with the sport as a kid, Rahkeem Cornwall has had to overcome several hurdles to become what he is today,” it said.
“One of the heaviest cricketers going around, 27-year-old Cornwall had to prove quite a few wrong to realize his dream of donning the West Indies Test cap,” it added, stating that Cornwall is “a complete package.
“At 6’5’’, the off-spinner has the guile and consistency that have bamboozled many, including the likes of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara,” Indiatoday continued.
It said Cornwall has a stellar first-class record, noting that, since 2016-17, the Leeward Islands cricketer hasn’t finished without 50 wickets in a season.
He was well on course to achieve the feat in the 2019-20 season as well, having picked 30 wickets in just five matches, but the novel coronavirus pandemic forced an early end to the four-day championship, Indiatoday said.
Having played the role of an opener for St Lucia Zouks, Cornwell scored 254 runs at a staggering strike rate of over 190 in CPL 2019.
He has 4 List A hundreds to go with one hundred and 14 fifties in first-class cricket, Indiatoday noted.
But Cornwall said he wants to prove his batting ability at the international level.
In three Tests, Cornwall hasn’t managed to trouble the scorers much, but he said he is working hard to prove he is more a batting all-rounder than a bowling all-rounder at the highest level, according to Indiatoday.
“I think I am an all-rounder who can bat,” he told the online publication. “My batting does not show its true potential at the international scene as yet. I think I have some more work to do.
“So, I am capable enough to bat at the international level,” he added. “I just have to put in the hard work and showcase my talent with the bat.”
Cornwell said the CPL is one (platform to prove my skills).
“I think once I perform, there is no doubt I can get selected in the T20 team,” he said. “Also, we have regional 50-over cricket, I have to go and dominate there to make the 50-over team.
“It’s possible,” he assured. “I just have to put in the hard work.”
