ENGLAND and the West Indies are doing battle at Old Trafford – and there’s a new face in the touring XI.
Rahkeem Cornwall is a big personality on and off the field, with the giant off-spinner officially the heaviest Test player of all time.
His stature, bowling skills and impressive drinking ability has got cricket fans talking this week.
Who is Rahkeem Cornwall?
Cornwall plays his club cricket for Leeward Islands and is a talented spinner, averaging 23.57 in first-class cricket.
He took a five-wicket haul in his Test bow against Afghanistan, despite coming into the international arena late at the age of 27.
Captain Jason Holder named the tall Antigua star into their 11-man squad after resting paceman Alzarri Joseph.
Cornwall spent time at Thames Ditton Cricket Club and went viral after a picture of him making short work of a yard of ale was shared on Twitter.
Cornwall boasts a height of 6 feet and 6 inches, and being 22 stone makes him the heaviest cricketer in international cricket.
He’s been dubbed a ‘secret weapon’ for the West Indies with the ability to bowl long spells of off-spin and release the ball from a great height.
However, captain Jason Holder has reported no fitness doubts for the off-spinner.
Holder rates Cornwall highly, speaking before the third test: ”He is a wicket-taker and he has proven himself to be a match winner, not only at the regional level but in his last Test match when he got 10 wickets.
“I think he is a quality off-spinner and no doubt to me he would be the best spinner on show in this series.
“He is always a wicket taking option for us. But not only that he brings a bit more with slip catching and batting as well – he can bat – and he brings a lot of control with his art.”
