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Cummins to turn out for Canada

New Delhi: As the cricket World Cup arrives in the West Indies for the first time, the Caribbeans will also get ready to welcome the return of the native — Anderson Cummins.

The forgotten paceman of the 1990s will rewrite record books as he will be playing at the World Cup after a gap of more than a decade and for a different team.

Cummins, who made his international debut with the West Indies in 1991, shone despite being in the shadow of star seamers such as Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop.

Third appearance

But Cummins, who last played in 1996, will now play in his third World Cup, this time donning Canadian colours.

The Barbados-born Cummins played in 63 one-day internationals, capturing 78 wickets including 12 at the 1992 World Cup. He was also a useful lower order batsman.

During his five years of service to West Indies cricket, Cummins also courted controversy.

He was not included in the squad for the first Test against South Africa in Barbados in 1992 as Kenneth Benjamin made his debut.

The crowd, supporting the local boy Cummins, boycotted the match and protested, "No Cummins, no goings."

In 1996, Cummins moved to Canada and 11 years later, he has dramatically emerged from oblivion to play for his adopted country.

Cummins will only be the second player in the history of the game after Kepler Wessels to play for two countries at the World Cup.

Wessels turned up for Australia in 1983 and later led South Africa in 1992.

Canada is placed in Group C that also has New Zealand, England and Kenya. — PTI

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