Kenya has to pull up its socks

By G. Viswanath

KIMBERLEY, OCT. 13. It was a decision the cricket starved Kenyans hailed as soon as they received the invitation from the United Cricket Board of South Africa. A seven-match series between India and South Africa - which was what the home board had planned initially - would have turned out to be a big hit and the springboard for the home international season which would end with Australia's visit in the first quarter of the next year.

But the popular slogan for the UCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC) being ``Development of the game'' in the disadvantaged areas in South Africa and in countries like Kenya and Bangladesh, the UCB felt obliged to include Kenya as the third team in the first part of the Summer Spice series.

In the two matches they have played against South Africa and India, the Kenyans came a cropper against some sustained bowling. They batted first on a good pitch in Benoni and could make no more than 159 and four days later the Kenyan batsmen looked like a bunch of schoolboys at the Goodyear Park on Friday and were skittled out for 90. Even Steve Tikolo, definitely a batsman of class, fell tamely attempting an expansive drive. It was a sign of frustration caused by another failure by the Kenyan openers, Kennedy Obuya and Ravindu Shah.

Shah was all dour defence against South Africa against whom he made eight in 64 minutes. He was at the crease for 10 minutes against India before being gobbled up by Ajit Agarkar for zero. The other opener, Kennedy Obuya fell off the first ball of the match in Benoni, but on Friday held his end for 81 minutes for a meagre 14 runs. Together, Kennedy Obuya and Shah have made more than 1500 runs in one-day internationals, which points to a degree of success, but they have not served their team well in the two matches in this series.

Maurice Odumbe, the captain, stated that ``the poor showing by the openers has become a worry. But this is what happens when a side plays so little cricket.''

The fall of early wickets has affected the confidence of David Obuya who had played only three matches before the tri- series here. He is yet to make an impression. Tikolo and, to an extent, Odumbe were in good touch against the South Africans, but on Friday, Tikolo, too, appeared to have come into the middle with a fragile heart.

Tikolo, Odumbe and Thomas Odoyo like to bat free of pressure. This is what they would be looking forward to in their remaining matches, the first of which is against the home team at the Kimberley Country Cricket Club on Sunday. This will be the second and last day match of the tri-series.

India's coach John Wright has not been surprised by Kenya's unsatisfactory displays in two matches. ``I think they are still a fledgling nation in international cricket. It will take a long time to develop a system there. They need to have everything in place like the `A' team and junior teams. They were beaten today because it was a thorough professional performance by us.''

The Kenyans would have had no time to go into introspection before their third match. With 10 matches, including the final, packed into 22 days, the UCB had to schedule matches in a manner that would hardly give time for the teams to recover physically and mentally. Though the match at Bloemfontein finished early, the Kenyans had to rush to Kimberley, about 160km from the Afrikaan province. No captain has yet talked about fatigue, but it will not be long before one of them does.

For the Kenyans it will be more a mental factor, having been routed in two matches. How they put into practice the valuable tips from Bob Woolmer will be seen in Sunday's match.

Shaun Pollock's team returns to the tri-series after a three-day break and after losing to the Indians at `The Centurion'. The South Africans have played four matches against the Kenyans in four years and have won all four, the margins being 202 runs, seven wickets, 24 runs and seven wickets. They will take on the Kenyans without seasoned opener Gary Kirtsen, who has been rested to enable him to recover from a slight thigh muscle strain.

The selectors have also released fast bowler Andre Nel for an inter-provincial match. The official reason is that the selectors would like to follow the `rotation and resting policy.' Boeta Dippenaar is likely to replace Kirsten and seamer Charles Langeveldt may come in for Nel. Langeveldt took five wickets against the Kenyans in a friendly game earlier.

The tri-series, which is a little over a week old, has already given sufficient hints that the home team and the Indians are heading towards the final in Durban. What Pollock would like to happen in the meantime would be that either Donald or Mfuneko Ngam overcome their fitness problems and report for the final. As Sourav Ganguly said the other day, the South African attack without Donald looks a little short on quality, but the Kenyans, who have major batting and bowling concerns, will get no respite on Sunday.

The teams: South Africa (from): Shaun Pollock (Captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Nicky Boje, Charles Langeveldt and Justin Kemp.

Kenya (from): Maurice Odumbe (Captain), Kennedy Obuya, Ravindu Shah, David Obuya, Steve Tikolo, Thomas Odoyo, Martin Suji, Tony Suji, Collins Obuya, Peter Ogondo, Brijal Patel, Sandeep Gupta, Jimmy Kamande, Joseph Angara and Hitesh Modi.

Umpires: Messrs Dave Orchard and Wilf Diedricks; Third umpire: Danny Becker; Match Referee: Mr. Ahmed Ebraham.

Hours of play (IST): 1. 30 p.m. to 5-15 p.m.; 6 p.m onwards.

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