CAVE HILL, Barbados – Miguel Cummins hopes familiarity of the Sagicor West Indies High Performance programme will breed success in their upcoming series against Bangladesh-A, starting next week here.
Cummins was part of the second group of players that graduated from the Sagicor WIHPC two years ago and made his One-day International debut for the senior West Indies squad against ICC Associate side Ireland last February at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
His was name was on the lips of the selection panel following a notable season for Barbados in the Regional 4-Day Tournament last year and he also impressed former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop after promising returns on the West Indies A-Team trip to India.
Cummins had plans for a strong follow-up regional season this year, but they were scuppered when he was overlooked for the NAGICO Super50 Tournament last January/February in Trinidad and injury disrupted his flow in the Regional 4-Day Tournament.
The young fast bowler said he’s ready to put the disappointments behind him however, and kick-on from where he left off last season in the series against the Bangladeshis which include a pair of four-day, three 50 overs-a-side and two Twenty20 matches, all to be played here.
“It feels great to be back to full fitness and my body is in good shape again,” said Cummins. “I am bowling well again. I did not have the kind of season I wanted, but coming back to the Sagicor WIHPC and working with the coaches again has helped. I feel a lot stronger and I expect big things of myself in this upcoming series.”
Cummins grabbed just five scalps at 42.80 apiece in five matches for Barbados in the Regional 4-Day Tournament and had to contend with the other fast bowlers to get a spell in the face of the success of the spin bowling pair of Sulieman Benn and Ashley Nurse.
“I was plagued by injuries this past season and I was not at my best, but you have to get accustomed to these kinds of setbacks as a fast bowler and just try to rebound as quickly and as hard as possible,” he said.
“I went back to the drawing board and I feel much fitter, much stronger. . .I did a lot of strength work and I did a lot of running, put some milage in my legs which I did not have for the past season and I worked hard with my trainer and she feels I am in pretty good shape.
“I also worked on a number of areas in my game, so I feel more confident about this series that’s coming up.”
Cummins was part of the Sagicor WIHPC side led by compatriot and fellow fast bowler Carlos Brathwaite that visited Bangladesh two years ago.
Brathwaite’s side had commendable results on that trip and Cummins said he hoped for even better results this time around.
“I want the team to do well, that’s the first and most important thing,” he said. “A plus for us is that a lot of the players have spent time in Barbados and know the conditions at some of the venues.
“I want to put in my performances to assist with us winning this series, but also to show what I have learnt. I need to put my foot down and show what I am capable of doing again, and anything can happen from there.”
