Kenya national cricket team

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Kenya
Flag of Kenya
Flag of Kenya
ICC membership granted 1981
ICC member status Associate with ODI status
ICC development region Africa
Captain Steve Tikolo
World Cricket League division One
World Cricket League Africa Region division One
First recorded match 1 December 1951 v Tanzania at Nairobi
ICC Trophy
Appearances 5, plus one as part of East Africa (First in 1982 (played as part of East Africa in 1979))
Best result Runners up, 1994 and 1997
One Day Internationals
ODI matches played 99
ODI wins/losses 27/65
First class cricket
First class matches played 35
First class wins/losses 5/12
List A cricket
List A matches played 151
List A wins/losses 49/89
As of 26 May 2007

The Kenya national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Kenya in international cricket matches. They are considered one of the strongest of the associate member nations of the International Cricket Council, especially since reaching the semi-final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup. They currently have One Day International status until the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early days

Kenya's international cricket started in 1951 when regular matches against Tanzania (then Tanganyika) and Uganda began. Touring teams of varying standard continued over the years, including a team of South African Non-Europeans captained by Basil D'Oliviera in 1958.[1] The South Africans won both matches against Kenya on the tour, in addition to a match against East Africa.[2]

[edit] East Africa team

Full article: East Africa cricket team

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda combined to form the East Africa cricket team, which became an associate member of the ICC in 1966.[3] They continued playing amongst themselves, and were joined by Zambia in a quadrangular tournament played annually between 1966 and 1980.[1]

India toured East Africa in 1967[4] and played a three-day match against Kenya on 5 August, which was drawn.[5] Various tours of, and by, East Africa continued, including a tour of England in 1972[6] and a first-class match between East Africa and the MCC at Nairobi Gymkhana Club in 1974[7] before East Africa took part in the first Cricket World Cup.

The 1975 Cricket World Cup took place in England, and East Africa were one of two non-test teams invited to the tournament, the other being Sri Lanka.[8] Kenya provided half of the fourteen man squad for the tournament.[1] After warm-up matches against Somerset, Wales, Glamorgan and various club sides, they played in the same first round group as England, India and New Zealand, losing to all three.[8] The World Cup was followed by a first-class match against Sri Lanka at the County Cricket Ground, Taunton.[9]

East Africa then took part in the 1979 ICC Trophy, the first ICC Trophy tournament, but did not progress beyond the first round, thus missing out on qualification for the 1979 World Cup.[10]

[edit] ICC Membership

Long considered the strongest part of the East Africa team,[1] Kenya broke away in 1981 and joined the ICC in their own right as an associate member,[11] shortly after a tour of Zimbabwe in 1980/81. They played two three-day matches against Zimbabwe on that tour, losing both.[12] Kenya played in the ICC Trophy in their own right in 1982,[13] 1986,[14] and 1990,[15] also playing their first first-class match against Pakistan B in September 1986.[16]

[edit] 1996 World Cup

The 1994 ICC Trophy was hosted in Nairobi and Kenya finished as runners-up to the UAE, thus qualifying for the 1996 World Cup.[17] Kenya then played at home against India A in August 1995,[18] and went on a tour to South Africa in September/October that year,[19] before playing in the World Cup, which was to bring Kenyan cricket to a much wider audience, and catapult them into the spotlight.

Kenya were in the same group as Australia, India, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.[20] In what at the time was described as the most startling upsets in the history of the World Cup, Kenya bowled out the West Indies for just 93 and won by 73 runs.[21]

[edit] ODI status

Following their World Cup performance, Kenya were given full ODI status by the ICC, and hosted a quadrangular tournament against Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka in September/October 1996.[22] The Netherlands toured in December, playing four one-day matches, with the Kenyans winning them all.[23] They played in the quarter finals of South Africa's Standard Bank Cup in March 1997, losing to Natal by 104 runs at Kingsmead.[24] Following this was the 1997 ICC Trophy, hosted in Malaysia.[25] Kenya reached the final, where they lost to Bangladesh by two wickets.[26] This was followed by a tri-series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in October the same year in Nairobi.[27]

England A were the first opposition in 1998, touring Kenya in January. A three-day match was drawn, with England A winning the only one-day match that was not abandoned due to the weather.[28] After this was another spot in the quarter final of the Standard Bank Cup, this time losing to Gauteng by 8 wickets.[29] Kenya visited India in May, playing a triangular ODI series against Bangladesh and India.[30] In the final match of the round-robin stage, Kenya beat India by 69 runs.[31] Kenya then competed in the cricket tournament at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Drawn in the same first round group as New Zealand, Pakistan and Scotland, Kenya only beat the Scots, and finished third in the points table for the group.[32]

Kenya warmed up for the 1999 World Cup with a triangular series in Bangladesh against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.[33] In the 1999 World Cup itself, they were placed in the same first round group as England, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Following warm-up games against Somerset, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan, they lost all five of their games in the tournament proper.[34] Following the World Cup, they played a quadrangular tournament at home against India, South Africa and Zimbabwe, again losing all their games.[35]

The 21st Century started for Kenya with a visit to Zimbabwe to play in the ICC Emerging Nations Tournament against Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland and Zimbabwe A. Kenya won the tournament[36] and took this form onto a seven match tour of India on which they lost just one game.[37] Pakistan A toured Kenya in July, playing a five match one-day series and a four-day first-class match. The four-day match was drawn, and Kenya won the one-day series 4-1.[38] The 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy was played in Nairobi in October, with Kenya falling to India at the first hurdle.[39]

The first opponents for Kenya in 2001 were Sri Lanka A, who toured Kenya in January, playing two first-class matches and four one-day matches. Both first-class matches were drawn, and Sri Lanka A won the first two one-day games, with the final two being abandoned.[40] The West Indies came in August for two first-class games and a three match ODI series. The first first-class game was won by the West Indies, with the second being drawn, and the three ODIs all went the way of the visitors.[41] Kenya then played an ODI triangular tournament in South Africa in October, playing against India and the hosts,[42] and picked up a second ODI win over the Indians.[43] Zimbabwe A toured Kenya towards the end of the year, losing a first-class series 1-0 and a one-day series 3-2.[44]

Kenya toured Sri Lanka in early 2002, playing three first-class and three one-day matches against Sri Lanka A. Sri Lanka A won all three of the first-class games, but Kenya won the one-day series 2-1.[45] The MCC toured Kenya shortly after this, playing one three-day match and six one-day matches against the national side. Five of the one-day matches went the way of the Kenyans before the sixth one-day match and the three-day match were abandoned.[46] Kenya then played in the ICC 6 Nations Challenge tournament in Windhoek, Namibia, playing against Canada, Namibia, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka A and Zimbabwe A.[47] Kenya won the tournament, beating Sri Lanka A by 3 wickets in the final.[48] In August/September, Kenya hosted an ODI triangular tournament against Australia and Pakistan, losing all four of their matches.[49] This was followed by a place in the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, though Kenya lost to the West Indies and South Africa, failing to progress beyond the first round.[50]

Namibia toured Kenya in November, playing four one-day games. Kenya won the series 2-1, with one game being abandoned.[51] Kenya then toured Zimbabwe to round off the year, playing three one-day matches against Zimbabwe A, and a three-match ODI series against the full Zimbabwean side. Zimbabwe won the ODI series 2-0, with one match finishing in a no result, and Zimbabwe A won their series against Kenya 2-1.[52]

[edit] 2003 World Cup and decline

The 2003 Cricket World Cup was to be Kenya's finest moment in international cricket to date. The tournament was to be held in South Africa, with Kenya hosting their two matches against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.[53] The tournament started with a defeat to South Africa,[54] but Kenya bounced back with a four wicket win over Canada in Cape Town.[55] New Zealand forfeited their match against Kenya in Nairobi due to safety concerns,[56] but Sri Lanka did visit Nairobi and lost by 53 runs.[57] The tournament continued, back in South Africa, with a win over Bangladesh[58] and a defeat to the West Indies.[59] Kenya had done enough to qualify for the Super Six stage, becoming the first non-test nation to progress beyond the first round of the World Cup. In the Super Six stage, they lost to India[60] and Australia,[61] but beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets,[62] qualifying for the semi-final, where they lost to India by 91 runs.[63]

Kenya's World Cup success was rewarded with a spot in a quadrangular tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, but they lost all three of their games.[64]

Kenya's failure in the above tournament is perhaps indicative of how they failed to capitalise on their World Cup success, though it must be said that not all of that failure was on the field. Although Kenya were given plenty of matches against national A sides, and played in the Carib Beer Cup in the West Indies in 2004,[65] Kenya only played two ODIs in the three years after the Sharjah tournament, against India and Pakistan in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy.[66]

Off-field setbacks also occurred. Maurice Odumbe was banned for match-fixing in August 2004,[67] and a series of strikes by players[68] led to a weakened Kenyan side being eliminated from the inaugural ICC Intercontinental Cup at the semi-final stage by Scotland.[69] By the end of the dispute in 2005, Kenyan cricket had no sponsors and was in virtual international isolation.[68] At that stage the governing body had dissolved internally and Kenyan cricket opportunities were limited and international cricket for them had virtually ceased.

[edit] Rebuilding

A rebuilding process began in 2005. The player strikes ceased, and Kenya again reached the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Cup. They warmed up for the semi-finals in Windhoek with a tour of Zimbabwe, to play two first-class and one one-day match against Zimbabwe A. They won all three of those games,[70] and drew against Bermuda in the semi-final of the 2005 ICC Intercontinental Cup[71] but lost to Ireland in the final, despite scoring 404/4 in their first innings.[72]

In early 2006, the Kenya Cricket Association was disbanded and replaced by Cricket Kenya.[68] The rebuilding process was in full swing as Kenya began playing ODI cricket again. Their return to ODI cricket was a five match series against Zimbabwe, which was drawn 2-2 with one match abandoned.[70] This was followed by a four match ODI series against Bangladesh, with Kenya losing all four matches in that series.[73] Their 2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup campaign got off to a poor start with a draw against the Netherlands[74] and a defeat to Canada,[75] but they bounced right back with two ODI wins over Canada at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.[76] Bangladesh toured Kenya in August, winning all three ODIs,[77] before an Intercontinental Cup draw against Bermuda[78] and three ODI wins over Bermuda.[79]

A triangular tournament in Mombasa against Canada and Scotland began Kenya's 2007 and Kenya won the tournament.[80] They then hosted Division One of the World Cricket League at three grounds in Nairobi, playing against Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland. Kenya also won this event, beating Scotland in the final.[81] This was followed by the 2007 World Cup, Kenya's fourth World Cup. Kenya beat Canada in the first round, but lost to England and New Zealand, thus missing out on the Super Eight stage.[82]

Since the World Cup, a team known as Kenya Select has taken part in Zimbabwe's Logan Cup competition, but did not win a game,[83] also losing to Zimbabwe A.[84]

[edit] Tournament History

[edit] World Cup

Year Rank
1975 First round (as part of East Africa)[8]
1979 Did not qualify (as part of East Africa)[85]
1983 Did not qualify[86]
1987
1992
1996 First round[20][34]
1999
2003 Semi-final[63]
2007 First round[82]

[edit] ICC Champions Trophy

Year Rank
2002 First round[50][66]
2004
2006 Did not participate[87]

[edit] ICC Knockout

Year Rank
1998 Did not participate[88]
2000 First round[39]

[edit] Commonwealth Games

Year Rank
1998 First round[32]

[edit] Intercontinental Cup

Year Rank
2004 Semi Final[69]
2005 Runners-up[72]
2006 First round[89]

[edit] World Cricket League

Year Rank
2007 Division One winners[81]

[edit] ICC 6 Nations Challenge

Year Rank
2000 Won[36][48]
2002
2004 Did not participate[90]

[edit] ICC Trophy

Year Rank
1979 First round (as part of East Africa)[10]
1982 First round[13][14]
1986
1990 Semi-finals[15]
1994 Runners up[17][25]
1997
2001 Did not participate[91][92]
2005

[edit] The future

In the remainder of 2007, Kenya have Intercontinental Cup games and ODIs scheduled against Canada and Bermuda. In 2009, they will take part in the ICC World Cup Qualifier, where they must finish in the top six to retain their ODI status and qualify for the 2011 World Cup.[93]

[edit] Records

[edit] One-day internationals


Most ODI runs for Kenya[97]

Player Runs Average
Steve Tikolo 2579 30.70
Thomas Odoyo 1832 25.80
Kennedy Otieno 1683 23.05
Ravindu Shah 1506 27.88
Maurice Odumbe 1409 26.09
Hitesh Modi 1109 23.59

Most ODI wickets for Kenya[98]

Player Wickets Average
Thomas Odoyo 100 31.41
Steve Tikolo 73 30.39
Peter Ongondo 55 27.00
Martin Suji 43 50.93
Maurice Odumbe 39 46.33
Aasif Karim 27 41.25

[edit] ICC Trophy

[edit] Players

[edit] Current line-up

Kenya's squad for the 2007 World Cup was as follows:[102]

[edit] Lists of players

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d A history of Kenyan cricket
  2. ^ South African Non-Europeans in East Africa at Cricket Archive
  3. ^ East Africa at Cricket Archive
  4. ^ India in East Africa, 1967 at Cricket Archive
  5. ^ Scorecard of Kenya v India match, 5 August 1967 at Cricket Archive
  6. ^ East Africa in England, 1972 at Cricket Archive
  7. ^ Scorecard of East Africa v MCC match, 18 January 1974 at Cricket Archive
  8. ^ a b c World Cup 1975 at Cricket Archive
  9. ^ Scorecard of East Africa v Sri Lanka match, 23 June 1975 at Cricket Archive
  10. ^ a b 1979 ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  11. ^ Kenya at Cricket Archive
  12. ^ Kenya in Zimbabwe, 1980/81 at Cricket Archive
  13. ^ a b 1982 ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  14. ^ a b 1986 ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  15. ^ a b 1990 ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  16. ^ Scorecard of Kenya v Pakistan B match, 12 September 1986 at Cricket Archive
  17. ^ a b 1994 ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  18. ^ India A in Kenya, 1995 at Cricket Archive
  19. ^ Kenya in South Africa, 1995/96 at Cricket Archive
  20. ^ a b 1996 World Cup at Cricinfo
  21. ^ Article on Kenya's win over the West Indies
  22. ^ Sameer Cup at Cricket Archive
  23. ^ Netherlands in Kenya, 1996 at Cricket Archive
  24. ^ Scorecard of Natal v Kenya match, 12 March 1997 at Cricket Archive
  25. ^ a b 1997 ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  26. ^ Scorecard of Bangladesh v Kenya, 1997 ICC Trophy Final, 12 April 1997 at Cricket Archive
  27. ^ KCA President's Cup 1997 at Cricket Archive
  28. ^ England A in Kenya 1997 at Cricket Archive
  29. ^ Scorecard of Gauteng v Kenya match, 14 January 1998 at Cricket Archive
  30. ^ Coca-Cola Triangular Series 1998 at Cricket Archive
  31. ^ Scorecard of India v Kenya match, 28 May 1998 at Cricket Archive
  32. ^ a b 1998 Commonwealth Games cricket tournament at Cricket Archive
  33. ^ Meril International Tournament 1999 at Cricket Archive
  34. ^ a b 1999 World Cup at Cricket Archive
  35. ^ LG Cup 1999 at Cricket Archive
  36. ^ a b Emerging Nations Tournament at Cricket Archive
  37. ^ Kenya in India 2000 at Cricket Archive
  38. ^ Pakistan A in Kenya 2000 at Cricket Archive
  39. ^ a b 2000 ICC KnockOut at Cricket Archive
  40. ^ Sri Lanka A in Kenya 2001 at Cricket Archive
  41. ^ West Indies in Kenya 2001 at Cricket Archive
  42. ^ Standard Bank Triangular Tournament 2001 at Cricket Archive
  43. ^ Scorecard of India v Kenya ODI, 17 October 2001 at Cricket Archive
  44. ^ Zimbabwe A in Kenya 2001 at Cricket Archive
  45. ^ Kenya in Sri Lanka 2002 at Cricket Archive
  46. ^ MCC in Kenya 2002 at Cricket Archive
  47. ^ 2002 ICC 6 Nations Challenge at Cricket Archive
  48. ^ a b Scorecard of Kenya v Sri Lanka A match, 14 April 2002 at Cricket Archive
  49. ^ Kenya PSO Tri-Nation Tournament 2002 at Cricket Archive
  50. ^ a b 2002 ICC Champions Trophy at Cricket Archive
  51. ^ Namibia in Kenya 2002 at Cricket Archive
  52. ^ Kenya in Zimbabwe 2002 at Cricket Archive
  53. ^ 2003 World Cup schedule at Cricinfo
  54. ^ Scorecard of South Africa v Kenya match, 12 February 2003 at Cricket Archive
  55. ^ Scorecard of Canada v Kenya match, 15 February 2003 at Cricket Archive
  56. ^ Scorecard of abandoned Kenya v New Zealand match, 21 February 2003 at Cricket Archive
  57. ^ Scorecard of Kenya v Sri Lanka match, 24 February 2003 at Cricket Archive
  58. ^ Scorecard of Bangladesh v Kenya match, 1 March 2003 at Cricket Archive
  59. ^ Scorecard of Kenya v West Indies match, 4 March 2003 at Cricket Archive
  60. ^ Scorecard of India v Kenya match, 7 March 2003 at Cricket Archive
  61. ^ Scorecard of Australia v Kenya match, 15 March 2003 at Cricket Archive
  62. ^ Scorecard of Kenya v Zimbabwe match, 12 March 2003 at Cricket Archive
  63. ^ a b Scorecard of India v Kenya World Cup semi-final match, 20 March 2003 at Cricket Archive
  64. ^ Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup 2003 at Cricket Archive
  65. ^ 2004 Carib Beer Cup at Cricket Archive
  66. ^ a b 2004 ICC Champions Trophy at Cricket Archive
  67. ^ Maurice Odumbe player profile at Cricinfo
  68. ^ a b c History of Kenyan cricket at Cricinfo
  69. ^ a b Scorecard of Kenya v Scotland semi-final, 17 November 2004 at Cricket Archive
  70. ^ a b Kenya in Zimbabwe 2005/06 at Cricket Archive
  71. ^ Scorecard of Bermuda v Kenya match, 23 October 2005 at Cricket Archive
  72. ^ a b Scorecard of Ireland v Kenya final, 27 October 2005 at Cricket Archive
  73. ^ Kenya in Bangladesh 2006 at Cricket Archive
  74. ^ Scorecard of Kenya v Netherlands match, 29 March 2006 at Cricket Archive
  75. ^ Scorecard of Canada v Kenya match, 29 July 2006 at Cricket Archive
  76. ^ Kenya in Canada 2006 at Cricket Archive
  77. ^ Bangladesh in Kenya 2006 at Cricket Archive
  78. ^ Scorecard of Kenya v Bermuda match, 5 November 2006 at Cricket Archive
  79. ^ Bermuda in Kenya 2006 at Cricket Archive
  80. ^ ICC Associates Tri-Series (Kenya) 2007 at Cricket Archive
  81. ^ a b 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One at Cricket Archive
  82. ^ a b 2007 Cricket World Cup at Cricket Archive
  83. ^ 2007 Logan Cup at Cricket Archive
  84. ^ Scorecard of Zimbabwe A v Kenya Select match, 16 May 2007 at Cricket Archive
  85. ^ 1979 World Cup at Cricket Archive]
  86. ^ List of Kenya's World Cup matches at Cricket Archive
  87. ^ 2006 ICC Champions Trophy at Cricket Archive
  88. ^ 1998 ICC KnockOut at Cricket Archive
  89. ^ 2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup at CricketEurope
  90. ^ 2004 ICC 6 Nations Challenge at CricketEurope
  91. ^ 2001 ICC Trophy at CricketEurope
  92. ^ 2005 ICC Trophy Official Site
  93. ^ World Cricket League diagram at the ICC's official website
  94. ^ Highest ODI team totals for Kenya at Cricket Archive
  95. ^ Highest individual scored for Kenya in ODIs at Cricket Archive
  96. ^ Best innings bowling for Kenya in ODIs at Cricket Archive
  97. ^ Kenya ODI Career Batting. Cricinfo.
  98. ^ Kenya ODI Career Bowling. Cricinfo.
  99. ^ Highest ICC Trophy team totals for Kenya at Cricket Archive
  100. ^ Highest individual scores for Kenya in the ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  101. ^ Best innings bowling for Kenya in the ICC Trophy at Cricket Archive
  102. ^ Kenya's 2007 World Cup squad at CricketEurope

[edit] External links

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National cricket teams
Test and ODI (10)
ODI-only (6)

Bermuda · Canada · Ireland · Kenya · Netherlands · Scotland
HPP members (4)
Other ICC associates (23)
ICC affiliates (58)
Former members
Non-members1
1 For Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the national team is the West Indies; for Wales, the national team is England; for Northern Ireland, the national team is Ireland.