The 26-year-old has been knocking on the doors of the national team selectors for a long time, simply by the weight of his performances. He had 260 wickets and 2,224 runs in 55 first-class matches for Leeward Islands, taking 17 five-wicket-hauls at a fine 24.23 with his off-spin, heading into his debut Test.

He ended his first day as an international cricketer, in the second Test against India in Kingston, with economical figures of 27-8-69-1, and the number of overs he sent down was also a pointer to his endurance. He also held on to two catches at slips to help Jason Holder, the captain, dismiss KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. The wicket of Pujara, a veteran of the long format, was sweet, but not surprising.

[caption id=”attachment_119722″ align=”alignnone” width=”1024″] Rahkeen Cornwall made his Test debut at long last[/caption]

“It was a good feeling to get my first Test wicket,” he said after play. “It was nothing really new to me, but it was a new feeling.

“The seamers put the ball in the right areas. When I saw the first ball come in [at slip], I just said I have to hold it and be confident and go from there.”

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It was surprising to many that Cornwall was given his maiden cap on a pace-friendly pitch in Jamaica rather than the dry one in Antigua for the first Test, but the man himself wasn’t too fussed – “when I get the opportunity, I will bowl the ball in the right areas” – and was more keen to focus on West Indies’ prospects.

“One [more] wicket would have been comfortable, but I think we are in a good position to bowl tomorrow and take the rest of the wickets.”