Otago Cricket today pays tribute to Craig Cumming who has announced his retirement from all Cricket effective at the end of this season.
In a First Class career that started nineteen years ago when he made his One Day Debut for Canterbury against Otago Cumming has gone on to achieve what very few others in the history of the game have managed.
Cumming has played 145 First Class games (93 for Otago), 147 One Day Games (105 for Otago) and 44 Twenty20 matches (43 for Otago). Cumming played eleven Test Matches and thirteen One Day Internationals for New Zealand. Cumming’s Test debut was against the great Australian side at Lancaster Park in the 2004/05 season a game in which he scored 74 in the first innings.
His list of impressive achievements and statistics is a long one but to highlight a few his 6463 First Class Runs and 21 centuries for Otago are both records for the province as are his 2558 One Day runs.
His contribution to Otago Cricket extends far beyond the runs and wickets. During his 12 years of service to the province in which he was captain for 10 years Craig has been an important figure in turning the fortunes of the Volts around. His leadership and off field contributions were extremely important aspects of the 2007-08 One Day Trophy and 2008-09 Twenty20 titles that were won by Otago.
Craig has always worn the Otago colours with a great deal of pride and passion and set an outstanding example to those around him.
Otago Cricket CEO Ross Dykes said “Comparisons are always dangerous, particularly between professional and amateur eras, but it is reasonable to talk of Bert Sutcliffe, Glenn Turner and Craig Cumming in the same breath - both in terms of records and runs scored and definitely in terms of the impact they all had on Otago Cricket during their time in the game.
His on-field record speaks for itself, but he has been equally influential as a captain, mentor and advocate for the game. He has a sense for the history and traditions of cricket and has, at all times, been an example of all that is good in the game of cricket. The fact that he has managed to maintain the highest on-field standards while establishing a family, a home and a career, speaks volumes for his mature and balanced approach to life.
Otago Cricket owes much to Craig Cumming and looks forward to celebrating his career over the next few weeks of the summer. Among the things that we will be doing is to “retire” the One Day Shirt No.13 that he has worn with such distinction for the Otago Volts. Wouldn’t it be nice if one of his sons could force it out of retirement in a decade’s time.. ”
Craig Cumming said “for 19 years I have had the privilege of being a professional cricketer, and during this time I have been able to experience all the highs and also the lows that come from being involved in this wonderful game. It is time however for me to finish my playing career. I am forever indebted to Otago cricket for all the support and opportunities that this great province has given me,
Otago Cricket wishes Craig, Penny, Jacob and Zac all the best for the future and looks forward to the Cumming name resurfacing as one that is at the forefront for Otago Cricket in years to come.
This is originally a product of otagocricket.co.nz
