World cup 2007: Review of Cricket Teams - Kenya

About Kenyan cricket

The Kenyan cricket team is the national cricket team of Kenya. The team is considered as the number one non-Test cricketing nation. They proved their skills by surprisingly proceeding up to the semi-final in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, which led for calls to grant Kenya Test status. The team has been boosted over recent years with the batting of Steve Tikolo and Maurice Odumbe with the backup of other batsmen and bowlers, including spin bowler Aasif Karim, who holds the distinction of having captained his country both in international cricket and Davis Cup tennis. Their other famous upset was against West Indies during the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

History of kenyan cricket

Kenya's entry into international cricket came as part of the East African cricket team, a combined team representing Kenya in addition to Uganda and Tanzania. That team gained associate membership of the ICC in 1966.

[1] The Kenyan team did play the occasional game outside of that combination, including a drawn game against India in 1967.

[2] East Africa competed in the first World Cup, with little success.

Kenya were by far the strongest element of the East African team, so it was no surprise when they broke away and joined the ICC as an associate member in their own right in 1981.

[3] Kenya played their first first-class game in 1986, losing against Pakistan B. Their second first class game would be twelve years away, but in the interim, their cricket came on in leaps and bounds.

They finished runners up in the 1994 ICC Trophy, which qualified them to play in the 1996 World Cup. They didn't progress past the first round, but they pulled off a major upset, beating the West Indies by 73 runs.

[4] The ICC granted Kenya ODI status soon after that World Cup, and they hosted a ODI tournament in September of that year. In May 1998, they pulled off another upset win, defeating India by 69 runs.

[5] Kenya had a poor World Cup in 1999, going without a win in the tournament. Their next win would once again be an upset victory against India, winning by 70 runs in October 2001.

[6] At the 2003 World Cup, Kenya shocked the cricketing world by defeating three Test-playing nations on their way to the semi-finals of the tournament (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe plus New Zealand by walk over). It was looking like Kenya would become the eleventh Test playing nation in due course. However, a series of setbacks was to occur which would prevent them from reaching their goal.

Following the 2003 semi-final, Kenyan cricket was rocked by match-fixing allegations, which eventually resulted in a ban for former captain Maurice Odumbe. Tikolo and many other senior players also went on strike over contract payments, as the players had apparently not been paid performance bonuses for their feats in the World Cup, with the expected negative effects on team performance. The Kenyan Cricket Association was dissolved by the government in January 2005, with Cricket Kenya being formed to replace it in February.

In June 2005, Kenya was stripped of its ODI status and returned to Associate Member status of the ICC. This will come into effect at the 2009 ICC Trophy, at which Kenya will have to play and finish in the top six to regain its status. In the period between 2005 and 2009, Kenya will keep its ODI status (qualifying automatically for the 2007 World Cup), but will be able to play ODIs regularly against the five qualifiers from the 2005 ICC Trophy, as well as the opportunity to play against the ten Full Members of the ICC.

Tournament History:

World Cup:

1975: First round (as part of East Africa. I guess know knew about this)
1979: Did not qualify (as part of East Africa)
1983 to 1992 inclusive: Did not qualify
1996: First round
1999: First round
2003: Semi Finals

ICC Champions Trophy

2002: First round (Also hosted it)
2004: First round

ICC Knockout

1998: Did not participate
2000: First round

Commonwealth Games

1998: First round

Intercontinental Cup

2004: Semi Finals
2005: Runners up

ICC 6 Nations Challenge

2000: Won
2002: Won
2004: Did not participate

ICC Trophy

1979: First round (part of East Africa)
1982: First round
1986: First round
1990: Semi Finals
1994: Runners up
1997: Runners up
2001: Did not participate - had automatic entry into 2003 World Cup
2005: Did not participate - had automatic entry into 2007 World Cup

Recent Form:

Since the 2003 World Cup, Kenya's progress towards eventual test status has been hampered by, among other factors, a lack of fixtures against the more established teams. Kenya went for a span of almost 18 months without playing an ODI after September 2004. However, with a new administration, Cricket Kenya, at the helm Kenya were back playing International cricket again in February/March 2006. The Kenyans showed promise by drawing an away ODI series Zimbabwe 2-2. Only a washout of the final match prevented the team from a chance to claim their first ever ODI series victory. Nonetheless, it was considered impressive for Kenya to have competed effectively with the far better-funded Zimbabwean side and illustrated the team's future potential. They then had the opportunity to Bangladesh for a 4 match ODI series in late March 2006. However, the team lost all four matches.

On their return from Bangladesh, they took on Holland in the first of their Intercontinental Cup matches. The Netherlands won the toss, and at the end of the second day of four, it looked like Kenya were heading for certain defeat. A superb unbeaten double century by Captain Steve Tikolo not only avoided the follow on, but effectively saved the match.

In July 2006 Kenya convincingly beat Canada in both ODI matches in Canada, but the following month lost 3-0 at home to Bangladesh. Kenya's next international engagement was a home series against Bermuda in November where Kenya won all 3 ODI matches and drew their Intercontinental Cup match.

In early 2007, Kenya will host Division One of the ICC World Cricket League where they will take on Bermuda, Canada Ireland, The Netherlands and Scotland. This will be preceded by an ODI tri-series against Canada and Scotland. They are drawn in the same group as Canada, England and New Zealand in the 2007 World Cup, where they will hope for a repeat of their 2003 performance.

Records

One-day internationals

Highest team total: 347/3 v Bangladesh, 10 October 1997 at Nairobi, Kenya
Highest individual innings: 144, Kennedy Otieno v Bangladesh, 10 October 1997 at Nairobi, Kenya
Best innings bowling: 5/24, Collins Obuya v Sri Lanka, 24 February 2003 at Nairobi, Kenya

ICC Trophy

Highest team total: 318/5 v Bermuda, 1 March 1994 at Nairobi, Kenya
Highest individual innings: 158 not out, Maurice Odumbe v Bermuda, 1 March 1994 at Nairobi, Kenya
Best innings bowling: 5/7, Martin Suji v USA, 30 March 1997 at University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Probables for WC 2007:

Steve Tikolo (Capt).
Thomas Odoyo.
Tony Suji.
Peter Ongondo.
Collins Obuya.
Jimmy Kamande.
Josephat Ababu.
Brijal Patel.
Nehemiah Odhiambo.
Kennedy Obuya.
Alfred Luseno.
Malhar Patel.
Tanmay Mishra.
Rajesh Bhudia.
Ashish Karia.
Alex Obanda.
Jadhavji Laxman.
Hiren Varaiya.
Timothy Muange.
Jadhavji Jeshani.
Darshit Shah.
Rashmi Gami.
Stewart Kayne.
Maurice Ouma.
Hitesh Modi.
Amit Bhudia.
Ragheb Aga.
Ali Sheikh.
Elijah Otieno.
David Obuya.
Ravi Shah.

Likely Squad for World Cup 2007:

Steve Tikolo (Capt).
Thomas Odoyo (V.Cpt).
Hitesh Modi.
Kennedy Obuya.
Tanmay Mishra.
Peter Ongondo.
Nehemiah Odhiambo.
Jimmy Kamande.
Tony Suji.
Brijal Patel.
Timothy Muange.
Hiren Variaya.
Collins Obuya.
David Obuya.
Josephat Ababu.
Darshit Shah.
Ravi Shah.

Players to Watch:

Tikolo, Odoyo, Obuya Brothers, Suji, Ravi Shah.

World Cup Group C:

England
New Zeland
Canada

World Cup like results:

Kenya would win Against Canada for sure. They can even surprise England but that most unlikely to happen. They will exit in 1st round with 1 win.

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Sunday, January 21, 2007