West Indies off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who is the heaviest cricketer in Test cricket history, picked up a career-best seven-wicket haul and the fifth-best figures by a visiting spinner in India to help his team to bowl out Afghanistan for a paltry 187 on the Day 1 of the one-off Test in Lucknow.
Playing only his second Test on Wednesday, November 26, Cornwall has wreak havoc on the Afghanistan's batsmen with his off-spin, finishing with the best figures of 7/75, as the hosts slipped from 90/2 to 187 all out on the opening day of the match in 68.3 overs.
With the bowling figures of 25.3-5-75-7, the 26-year-old registered the best bowling figures this year in the longest format of the game in India, as well as, best in the country in the last two calendar years from 2018 to 2019, surpassing R Ashwin’s record of 46.2-11-145-7 in 2018.
Read Also: Day 1, Only Test- Rahkeem Cornwall’s 7/75 restricts Afghanistan to 187; Windies make 68/2
Following his mind-blowing efforts with the ball, the robust off-spinner was delighted with his show, saying he will remember and cherish this special day for the rest of his life.
While saying he wants to keep getting such performances in his cricketing journey, he would like to see himself as a batting allrounder, said he wants to show the world what he can do with the bat as well.
Cornwall told reporters after the end of day's play, “I have to cherish this day. I will remember it for the rest of my life and look to keep getting performances like this as the journey goes on.”
The off-spinner continued, “It was a special day... not just the way I bowled but for some of the catches as well - by the captain at leg slip and Shai with two sharp one at slip. I still stick to ‘batting all-rounder’. I can bat so when I get the opportunity I will show what I can do with the bat.”
He also lauded his skipper Jason Holder, adding: “The captain gives me an attacking field, so I made sure I bowl to my field. I was getting a good purchase. I don't think height is an advantage. I think that it's my natural talent. I just have to keep working on my game and see how far it can take me.”
Credited the bowling coach Roddy Estwick for his bowling discipline, the bowler said: “I was just looking to put the ball in the right areas and do what the captain asked of me.”
Cornwall signed off by saying, “I just tried to stay as balanced as possible, which is something I spoke a lot about with Roddy Estwick.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
