New Talent

Following 20-year old Khashif Rashid's efforts with the bat for Sir Ali 'B' against Jaffery's last weekend, comes the news that another Kenyan youngster is showing great potential in England. Seren Waters, son of National selector and Kongoni's co-ordinator and player David Waters, has set Surrey alight with his performances for their Under 16 and Under 17 teams. According to this report on cricinfo, Waters made 206* for Surrey U16s against Essex, and as a result was promoted to the U17s. He responded by making 139, then capped it off by leading Old Cranleighans to victory in the Brewers cup with 129.

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In a time when Kenya's batsmen have been struggling at the senior level, these big scores from youngsters are heartening news. Whatever level cricket is being played, making a century, or double century requires talent and concentration. To make three in a row like Waters, requires a great deal of both. If we can hold on to players that show this sort of form so young, the future may be brighter than most of us have felt over the last few weeks.

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Rashid, despite playing in the 3rd Division of the local league will certainly have made the national selectors take note. At a time when players are being considered to make the trip to South Africa for the Winter Training Camp, this is a timely knock. It is worth noting that the only two other players to have achieved this milestone in local cricket have been the two regarded by most as Kenya's best players over the last ten years. Steve Tikolo and Ravindu Shah have both made 200, but not at such a young age as Rashid. It will be interesting to see if he is promoted to the A team for Sir Ali's next match, they certainly could have done with his help last week.

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Waters, despite his youth, may also have to be considered for the training camp. England have a nasty habit of poaching promising youngsters from the Associate nations, and this must not be allowed to happen here. For one, it would be a great loss of talent, but it would also pose some difficult questions to Seren's father as a Kenyan selector. I do not know who the selectors are considering sending to the training camp, or for the upcoming series against Uganda and Bermuda, but they will find it hard to ignore upcoming talent after the recent performances of some of the senior players. Going into a World Cup year in which the Intercontinental Cup will also be expanded to a round-robin tournament, it is vital that we can start to bring through players that can produce the goods when needed.

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I am not advocating that we rush players like Waters and Rashid straight into the national team, but they need to be recognised and brought into the feeder system where they will get a chance to play with the national squad players in training. If they then have it what it takes, maybe they can then be given a chance either through the A team, or even the senior team. After all, Alex Kervezee is hardly any older than Waters and has already proven a great find for Dutch cricket.

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This weekend will see league cricket in all three main centres in Kenya and more youngsters will have the opportunity to make their mark with both bat and ball. For those that do, it is imperative that Cricket Kenya are soon able to provide a national competition where they can prove themselves against the established players. Until they do, we may continue to see the best players sitting on the sidelines as the national team persists with already unsuccessful experiments.