The Otago skipper was yesterday named in the Black Caps test squad, which will play two tests when it tours Sri Lanka next month.
The 33-year-old right hander has been in and out of the national squad since scoring 74 on debut against Australia in March, 2005, and admitted his selection came as a surprise.
"I was pretty surprised based on missing out on a [New Zealand Cricket] contract when they came out a couple of weeks ago and finding out where I was ranked," Cumming said.
"But in saying that . . . my form was as good as it has ever been and I was playing as well as I ever have. Obviously, they have had a look at that and thought I deserved a recall through the form I showed."
Cumming had a magical summer for Otago, scoring 784 runs at an average of 65.33 in first-class cricket. In the process he chalked up four 100s, which equalled Glenn Turner's record for the most centuries scored in a season for the province. His one-day form was also impressive. Batting down the order at No 4, he scored 421 at 70.16.
"For me it is a case of, when I get the opportunity, making the most of it.
"They can't drop you if you score runs," he said.
Cumming believes his technique against spin bowling also helped in his selection.
"In the last two games of the domestic season Otago played on a couple of turning tracks. I had to face Jeetan Patel and got a 100 and got another 100 against Canterbury when the ball was turning square. I feel it is a strength of mine, but it is different when you are facing Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan]," he said.
Cumming has scored 441 runs in 11 tests at an average 25.94.
Former Black Caps strike bowler Daryl Tuffey's recall and Auckland wicketkeeper Reece Young's call-up were the other notable inclusions in the test side, while Shane Bond returns from exile to bolster the Black Caps one-day and twenty/20 squad.
Tuffey won his selection based on strong form in the State Championship, and head selector Glenn Turner said Sri Lankan conditions also played a part.
Young, somewhat surprisingly, got the nod over the contracted Gareth Hopkins to stand in for Brendon McCullum with the gloves.
Hopkins did not miss out altogether. He has been included in the one-day side, while Northern Districts keeper Peter McGlashan is in the twenty/20 side.
Amazingly, selectors have opted for four wicketkeepers.
Bond will tour India with New Zealand A before linking up with the Black Caps limited-over sides. Like Tuffey, he was banned from international cricket because of his involvement with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League.
Otago's Neil Broom and Nathan McCullum as well as Auckland's Kyle Mills are also included in the one-day and twenty/20 leg of the tour.
Wellington all-rounder James Franklin didn't make the test squad or the limited-over teams.
• Black Cap squads for Sri Lanka tour -
Test squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Craig Cumming, Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Reece Young.
ODI and twenty/20 squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins (one-dayers only), Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Peter McGlashan (twenty/20s only), Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor.
