Kenyans keen to make an impact
By IANSFriday, February 18, 2011
CHENNAI - Kenya shocked the cricketing world by entering the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup. But this time around they will look only to causing a few upsets in the league stage.
Veteran player Steve Tikolo, who has come out of retirement to play in his fifth World Cup, agreed that the present Kenyan team would struggle to match the 2003 side.
The team is well prepared. We are looking forward to the game against New Zealand on Sunday. Obviously, we have some youngsters in the team who have come up the ranks. They have really caught up in terms of their game level.
We are here to compete and do well, said the 39-year old at a Media conference here Friday.
As part of the preparations, the Kenyan team had a training camp in South Africa and training sessions in Dubai before arriving in India.
Tikolo felt that spin would be an influential factor in the World Cup and that Kenya had included four slow bowlers keeping in mind the conditions.
We have four spinners in our squad of 15. In the practice games, we have looked to play three spinners and they have done well. We are coping with the conditions here and on Indian wickets, our spinners will come to the party, he said.
The team starts its Cup campaign against New Zealand here Sunday.
