News from Uganda

Well, courtesy of Tony Munro and BTTW, we now know what the neighbours are doing. In terms of regional development, this is a heartening report, but could also be a cause for concern to Kenya. One fact alone must be rectified: Uganda qualifying for the U19 World Cup at Kenya's expense. It has happened the last two times, and if we want to make excuses, we can blame the last administration for bungling development. Whatever the cause though, Kenya must get it's development up to scratch. Our U15s did us proud earlier this month, and this success has to be built on. Kenya can not afford to miss out on qualifying for any tournament at an International level. The experience is too important to miss out on.

The other idea that occurred to me was how about the officials in the region coming up with a regional super cup featuring the best 2 teams or so from each country? Just a thought, but it surely couldn't do any harm, and sponsors would probably jump at it.

Grandad

His First Class record may not have been much to write home about, but I was very surprised when I found his name listed on Cricinfo. I had always known he was a keen cricketer, and had played extensively as a young man before his 'duties to the Empire' took over. I did not know him that well, being only 18, and him having spent the last years of his life fighting alzheimer's. I do remember 'Dev' ,as he was known, sitting on a rocking chair playing marbles with me when I was very small - I was on the floor, and he was rolling them around with his feet. I wish I had been old enough then to ask him about his cricketing days, but I guess that was never to be. In the obituaries when he died, most people remembered the work he did as a Govenor for Mauritius (there is I'm told still a bridge there named after him - "the longest bridge in the Indian Ocean"), and in the West Indies. It is nice that he is still remembered as a cricketer, even if his best scores are not.

Swamibapa win Twenty-20 crown

Swamibapa remain the team to beat in Kenya Cricket, as their 'A' team defeats Nairobi Jafferies 'A' for the NPCA Twenty-20 crown. While the result was, perhaps, not unexpected, what is good is to see the bowlers dominating. Kenya cricket has often relied on batting to get it out of trouble, so it is great to see that, even though they were on the losing side, two of Kenya's top bowlers are continuing to perform. It is only Twenty-20, but seeing Collins Obuya and Thomas Odoyo returning figures of 3 for is heartening stuff. Jimmy Kamande too seems to be on the comeback trail not only hitting a half centruy with the bat, but also joining the 3 for brigade for Swamibapa with Ababu. Slightly dissapointing, other than Kamande was the batting, but there is still a month to go before the Bangladesh tour, so Roger Harper has time to work with whoever the selectors pick.

Welcome Kenya Cricket: Dawning of a New Era

It is finally official. KCA and the era of mismanagement, greed, and the near total destruction of the game in Kenya, has gone. It took some time coming - many of us hoped it would happen a couple of years ago, but the main thing is we can now move forward. Yesterday's meeting in Mombasa was attended by delegates from all four provinces, and the decision was unanimous.

Under Cricket Kenya, the board should find it much easier to attract sponsorship, especially in view of upcoming matches. Until now, Samir Inamdar seems to have been severely hampered by the KCA tag, and the efforts to change it. Now that it is done, it is time to start ringing the changes in a major way. Bring on board the sponors we have been told are waiting in the wings. Start a national league. Get the schools program going. Organise internationals, even if they are only against the other Associates. Yesterdays decision was a great start to a new era, but it was just that, a start. Now the real work begins.

Warney and Neighbours

Again, nothing to do with Kenyan Cricket, but this was too good to resist. Not content with Real Life soap that is his life, Shane Warne is now going to star in Neighbours. This poses the question, who else will we see follow suite, and to which shows? Some of my favourites would be:

• Glen McGrath - RAN (as a rogue pig hunter).
• Shabbir Ahmed - Lost (sorry - I have a warped sense of humour).
• Dale Steyn - Backyard Blitze.
• The Zimbabwe Cricket Board - The Biggest Loser.