Shane Watson backs West Indian 140kg cult hero Rahkeem Cornwall to be a Big Bash success
Shane Watson is urging BBL clubs to look beyond the shape and size of cricket’s newest cult hero. Some say Rahkeem Cornwall is too big for cricket - but Virat Kohli might not agree.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
White ball master Shane Watson has declared size doesn’t matter, as the first sign emerges of Big Bash interest in cricket’s newest cult hero.
To put it bluntly, the majority of BBL clubs feel that 140kg and 196cm West Indian giant Rahkeem Cornwall is too Big for the Bash.
But the fact Cricket Australia is pushing for an inaugural international player draft this summer has left the door ajar for the hulking all-rounder, who last year caught the interest of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, to throw himself into the mix.
Former Australian coach and Brisbane Heat boss Darren Lehmann says he would be tempted to have a sneaky look at man mountain Cornwall, who has the prized scalp of the world’s best batsman Virat Kohli on his impressive record as well as two Tests for the Windies.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“Any of those players that bring an X-factor with them to any tournament and some excitement for the fans, that’s what you’re after in the BBL,” Lehmann told News Corp.
“His quality of cricket has to be good and he looks like he’s got some potential there. You look at all options with overseas players.”
Lehmann, one of the most prolific first-class run-scorers ever, played the game on his own terms and was never a calorie conscious gym junkie and says Cornwall’s fitness issues should not be a deal-breaker for BBL clubs.
Shane Watson, one of the most experienced and accomplished T20 cricketers in the history of the game, played alongside Cornwall in the Caribbean Premier League and swears by his talents as a power hitter and genuine off-spinner.
Australian cricket has long had an obsession with fitness, and former Australian ODI star Mark Cosgrove suffered because of it. But Watson says cricket is a unique game that should not turn its back on an out of the box prospect like Cornwall, just because he comes in a different package.
“What I saw when I played with him three years ago was he’s absolutely got great skills,” said Watson.
“At the end of the day, cricket is a skill-based game. So if you’ve got great skills and you can execute them under pressure, it doesn’t matter what shape or size you are. It doesn’t matter.
“If you can execute and you’re a matchwinner, gosh, any team will have you.”
READ MORE:
Stuart Broad, England celebrate on Test cricket’s return, but the honour goes to the West Indies
Longer Big Bash triggers backlash as competition seeks overseas stars
BBL hubs: Where each state will play Big Bash League games
Jofra Archer’s biosecurity breach for visiting his dog a warning for Australian players
Broadcasters Fox Sports say they would love to see Cornwall drafted to the BBL to inject some much needed personality into the competition.
“Anything that brings more international players into the games is a good thing. Rahkeem has captured the imagination of the cricket world over the last week or so. The game is about entertainment and characters and we’d love to have him out here,” said Fox Cricket boss Matt Weiss.
“At the moment there’s no bigger character or entertainer in the game.”
News Corp contacted all eight BBL clubs. Seven said they wouldn’t be interested in Cornwall – some because of fitness concerns around how he would get around in the field on Australia’s bigger sized grounds, others because they’re already set on spinners.
However, the fact is the BBL is set to be turned on its head if Cricket Australia gets an international player draft over the line for this season – which it’s pushing heavily to do.
For example, the Adelaide Strikers could lose their hold on superstar spinner Rashid Khan and the Melbourne Renegades on Mohammad Nabi, and if Cornwall chooses to nominate for the draft, then suddenly he’s on the table for a desperate team.
Former Australian coach Tim Nielsen once coached Cornwall in the CPL and said the 27-year-old’s towering height makes him a dangerous bowler – and his fielding shouldn’t be underestimated despite his size.
“He can whack it as well. And he’s a good catcher as he showed in the Test with his catch in the slips,” said Nielsen.
“He’s one of those guys who seems to have tremendous hand eye co-ordination. Whether his physical condition has counted against him over the journey because people aren’t sure whether they’re willing to take a punt on him or not. I couldn’t answer that.”
Originally published as Shane Watson backs West Indian 140kg cult hero Rahkeem Cornwall to be a Big Bash success