But instead of commentating on the games he will be giving the team talk.
The new Otago Sparks coach is looking forward to inspiring the next Suzie Bates or Katey Martin when the season gets under way later this year.
The former test opener forged an impressive first-class career for the Otago Volts. The 44-year-old amassed more runs (6589 at an average of 43.34) for the province than even the incomparable Bert Sutcliffe.
He retired from playing eight years ago but has remained closely involved through his commentary work for Sky Sport.
Cumming, who is the director of sport at Otago Boys’ High School, has also had various coaching and mentoring roles, and three years ago acquired his level 3 coaching certificate.
"Cricket is always on my mind," he said.
"It is something I’m passionate about.
"I’ve spent the last three years investing heavily in my coaching experience and trying to improve in the areas I thought were important so I could be in a position where I could be a head coach one day.
"Now is the opportunity. At some stage you’ve got to say, ‘right, I’m ready to lead a coaching programme’."
Cumming has a long first-class career to draw on and a large reservoir of cricketing knowledge. But the challenge will be to find ways to motivate and inspire.
The level 3 coaching course he did was invaluable in that sense, he said.
"You can have the knowledge, but you’ve still got to be able to impart the knowledge.
"The key is giving them good guidance and inspiring them to get better each day.
"If they understand what they need to do to get better the results will take care of themselves."
Typically, results are what elite teams are judged on. But Cumming wants to focus on the bigger picture.
Women’s cricket is improving, but it has a long way to go. There is still no senior women’s club competition in the city, for example.
The depth of talent in the region is not where it needs to be and providing more games is the only way the standard will improve, Cumming argues.
"We’ve got to get out of the nets and build experience by playing more, so when you get opportunities to train you actually have a picture of what you are trying to change."
The Spark were really competitive in the twenty20 competition last season. They bowed out in the elimination final, but played some good cricket.
However, the team was bolstered by a couple of talented imports, and when you take the likes of White Ferns trio Bates, Martin and Hayley Jensen out of the team, the Sparks really struggle.
They did not win a single game in the one-day tournament.
Cumming said he had not had the discussion around whether the Sparks would bring in imports this season. But it seems unlikely given Covid-19 and the financial pressure the association is under.
"I’m a big believer in trying to develop Otago players, but sometimes you did need a bit of balance."
