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Otago batsman Craig Cumming - Source: Photosport -
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Craig Cumming has come out from one form of cricketing hibernation and the occasional New Zealand opening batsman hopes his re-emergence extends to the Test side.
Cumming has an opportunity to press his claims for a recall for the two-Test series of Sri Lanka when New Zealand's challenging assignment starts with the first of two warm-up matches in Colombo on Friday.
The Otago captain should feature in one of the matches against local selections, his first experience of sub-continent conditions since he toured there with New Zealand A in 2005-06.
Cumming is vying with incumbent Tim McIntosh to partner Martin Guptill at the top of a New Zealand order that is in perpetual search for a stabilising influence.
McIntosh made an impressive Test debut against the West Indies last summer but found the Indians a far tougher proposition later in the season.
The Aucklander will probably be persevered with for the first Test at Galle starting on August 18.
If Cumming scores heavily in the lead-up games he could slot in at Colombo should McIntosh struggle in the series opener.
Cumming and McIntosh share the same circumspect qualities and dogged determination - and both are familiar with form dips after impressive starts.
While McIntosh's 65.66 average against the West Indies has withered to 32.12 five innings later, Cumming has never managed to emulate his debut innings of 74 against Australia at Christchurch in March 2005.
Cumming then played four Tests against Sri Lanka and two against South Africa, an experience memorable for being levelled by a Dale Steyn bouncer when he was compiling 48 at Centurion.
He might have expected an easier time of it against Bangladesh in New Zealand's next series but joined the top order merry-go-round when he managed one, four and 42 against the minnows.
Jamie How was chosen for the England series, Aaron Redmond came and went, McIntosh and Guptill emerged and now Cumming is back in vogue on the basis of his run production at provincial level.
Cumming amassed 784 runs at 65.33 in the four-day competition - four tons and two 50s in 12 innings pushed him ahead of How and Redmond as the tour party's other genuine opener.
McIntosh, Guptill and Cumming were among eight players that escaped New Zealand's cold snap for a training camp in Brisbane last week - a welcome change from the rigmarole of batting indoors.
"It made a change from minus six," said Cumming, who relished his first bat on grass since Otago played Canterbury in late March.
Cumming and McIntosh are literally coming in cold to the tour having not been required for the Twenty20 world championship squad but the 33-year-old former Cantabrian was unfazed.
"I enjoy a long off-season, I picked the bat up and it didn't feel like there'd been a lot of change," Cumming said.
"We've got a couple of games lead-in and by the time the first test rolls around there shouldn't be any excuses."
Unlike McIntosh, who had never set foot on the sub-continent, Cumming at least has an inkling of what to expect - and is also familiar with most of the Sri Lankan attack.
"I feel like I know what I'm walking into. It will be different facing them in their conditions but at least I have a little bit in the memory bank from when I played them."
He averages 27.71 after seven innings against the Sri Lankans, hardly compelling evidence for reinstatement though at least one nemesis has retired.
Chaminda Vaas bowed out after the third Test against Pakistan last month, soothing news for Cumming who was claimed three times by Sri Lanka's greatest pace bowler.
"He's one of the toughest bowlers I've ever faced."
For Cumming, the same adjective might also apply to Sri Lanka as a touring destination.
"I think I scored three runs there (it was seven) with the A team, so hopefully this is more successful."
