Cornwall’s time will come, says chief selector

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Chief selector Courtney Browne believes there will be other opportunities for all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall, after the burly Antiguan was overlooked for the recently-named Test squad for the tour of England.

Cornwall has made a strong case to selectors in recent times but has been repeatedly ignored in all formats, with the latest snub coming in the announcement of the 15-man touring party for the three-Test series.

“I say this to people all the time, the way how cricket goes, there is always opportunity for players,” Browne was quoted as saying on the Observer Radio sports show here.
Rahkeem Cornwall

“If a player is not selected now or a player is not selected three months, six months or seven months down the road, there is always opportunity. Players lose form, players get injured, there is always opportunity.”

The 24-year-old Cornwall has impressed with his aggressive right-hand batting and steady off-spin for Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

In the recent first class campaign, he racked up nearly 400 runs and snared 41 wickets to be one of the leading all-rounders. He posted similar numbers in the previous season with 367 runs and 48 scalps.

He was equally consistent in the Regional Super50 earlier this year with 250 runs at an average of 50 while taking 10 wickets.

West Indies played 14 One-Day Internationals this year winning just three but Cornwall failed to gain favour with selectors.

Cornwall, who has also had success with Windies A, is a towering figure standing six feet, five inches and weighing well over 250 pounds, and Browne admitted the player’s “conditioning” was also a factor in his non-selection.

“Rahkeem has other issues with his conditioning … we are working very hard to get him to the position where if and when he gets into international cricket he could actually stand up to the rigors,” Browne explained.

too big to be a good player