World Cup Teams / Andrew Hughes / 08 February 2011 /

One of the foremost of the associate nations and former World Cup semi-finalists, Kenya nevertheless look set to struggle in South Asia

Pre-tournament form is a notoriously unreliable guide to how well a team will fare when it really matters. Kenya will certainly hope so. Their wretched pre-World Cup tour of India was a stark reminder of the gulf in class they have to cross if they are to make an impact in this competition. It was a sensible idea to test themselves in Indian conditions with five games against Gujarat and Baroda. But despite being up against what were little more than youth sides, Kenya conspired to lose all five.

On the plus side, their batting held up pretty well in the conditions, they scored plenty of runs and had no problem with the variety of spinners they encountered, though it remains to be seen how well they will cope against top class bowling. With the ball though, they looked weak and ineffective and unless they can improve drastically, they could be on the end of some mammoth scores come the World Cup.

Where they cannot be faulted is in their preparation. The Indian tour was a good idea and they have signed up Jonty Rhodes to work with the squad, a move that has apparently done wonders for energy levels and enthusiasm amongst the Kenyan players. The squad they have chosen is sensibly balanced and there is a smattering of World Cup experience amongst the youngsters, most notably in the person of 41 year old veteran Steve Tikolo. The stark reality though is that if Kenya are to progress, they will need to beat both Canada and Zimbabwe and hope for a miracle against one of the major nations.

The Captain - Jimmy Kamande
Kenya's new captain has his work cut out to say the least. A bits and pieces player in the Adam Holioke mode, it isn't entirely clear whether he's a batsman who bowls a bit or a bowler who can swing the bat. On the plus side, he has had a good year with the ball in one day internationals, having reinvented himself as a miserly off-spinner after being reported for a suspect bowling action.

The Veteran - Steve Tikolo

The undisputed hero of Kenyan cricket, Tikolo was at one time regarded as the best batsman outside Test cricket. His place in Kenyan cricket history is secure, having led the side to the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup, beating Sri Lanka along the way. It is fair to say that his best days are behind him, but a timely century against Afghanistan showed he's still got it and he is important not just for the middle order runs he can score but for his experience and presence in the dressing room.

The Rookie - Seren Waters
The most talented youngster in Kenyan cricket, his preparation has been disrupted as he had to return to his studies at Durham University for a week. He has on occasion been overlooked because of a tendency of selectors to prefer domestically-based players, but Kenya can ill afford to neglect someone of his talent. His century was the highlight of the Indian tour and having shown he can cope with the conditions he needs to be given his chance on the biggest stage.

The Rock - Thomas Odoyo
A solid batsman and reliable opening bowler, Odoyo has a great deal resting on his shoulders. But though he can be depended on to contribute with the bat, it his economical medium-paced bowling that could be most valuable to his team in keeping opposition batsmen in check. And as a veteran of four World Cups, he will be able to offer valuable advice to the younger members of the squad.

Best Bet
Steve Tikolo to be top Kenyan batsman at [5.0]

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