Kenya, the cinderella team of World Cups past, will enter this year's tournament on a high after comprehensively winning the inaugural World Cricket League (WCL) last month. Kenyan cricket has progressed to the point where they are no longer Associates at the ODI level, but considered a full ICC member. In fact, there have been many voices arguing for the inclusion of the Kenyan team in the Test arena. Mismanagement and infighting in the past on the part of Cricket Kenya is often blamed for Kenya not yet achieving Test status. However, Kenya Cricket is under a new administration and its future is looking bright.
Batting
Steve Tikolo returns to lead the Kenyan batting for a fourth World Cup. Tikolo is widely rated as the best batsman outside of the Test arena. He averages 55 in his 38 first class matches and has impressed many an observer on his previous World Cup appearances. Tikolo is a world class batsman by any standard and his exceptional strokeplay and eye for the ball has been widely acclaimed. Veteran opener Ravindu Shah is a stylish right hander who can play every shot in the book. He is an accummulator of runs and will wait for the bad delivery to dispatch it to the boundary. Wicketkeeper David Obuya, who is the brother of previous World Cup stars Kennedy Otieno and Collins Obuya, will open the batting and has enjoyed a good run of form. 20 year old middle order batsman Tanmay Mishra represents the new generation of Kenyan cricketers and has displayed enough talent to show that he is one to watch for the future.
Bowling
Pacers Thomas Odoyo and Peter Ongondo will open the bowling and are earning a reputation as quite a formidable pair. Ongondo is naggingly accurate with his medium fast deliveries and takes wickets at regular intervals. Odoyo is a veteran of the 1996 World Cup team and has matured into one of the top all rounders in the world, being recently ranked by the ICC in the top 20 of world ODI all rounders. He is 3 wickets shy of having 100 wickets and 1,000 runs in ODIs. The wild card for the Kenyan bowling maybe 22 year old laft arm spinner Hiren Varaiya. Varaiya is stingy with his bowling and will be counted on to tie down the batsmen in the middle overs.
Squad
Steve Tikolo (capt), Thomas Odoyo (vice-captain), Ravindu Shah, Tanmay Mishra, Collins Obuya, Peter Ongondo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Maurice Ouma, Malhar Patel, Hiren Varaiya, David Obuya (wk), Rajesh Bhudia, Jimmy Kamande, Tony Suji, Lameck Onyango
Coach
Kenya is coached by former West Indies Test player, Roger Harper.
Previous World Cups: 1996, 1999, 2003 (Kenya were also part of the East African side that played in the 1975 World Cup)
World Cup Record: 6 Wins 13 Losses since 1996, 0-3 in 1975 as East Africa
Best World Cup Finish: 2003 Semi finals
Outlook: The problem with pulling off upsets as Kenya have done repeatedly, is that you no longer sneak up on teams. England and New Zealand will be well aware of Kenya's potential and will want to avoid being beaten by Kenya as were the West Indies in 1996 and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 2003. (Kenya also defeated New Zealand in 2003 in a walk over as New Zealand refused to play in Kenya due to security concerns). That said, this Kenyan team can produce an upset against the "bigger" teams and, if so, then with Canada in their group as well, a ticket past the first round could be had. Kenyans model their cricket after West Indians and they should be fan favourites in the Caribbean.
Group Matches (Group B)
Wed March 14 - Canada
Tues March 20 - New Zealand
Sat March 24 - England
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