Maurice Ouma is Kenya's new Captain

Cricket Kenya have today released the squad to travel to Ireland along with the new appointments for Captain and Vice Captain. In a move that was guessed at by only 2% of the readership of this blog, Kenya's new Captain will be Maurice Ouma (Right) with Jimmy Kamande acting as Vice Captain. It is a bold decision by Kenya's selectors and is certainly made with an eye on the future as both players are likely to be around for a long time yet.

There is only one change to the rest of the 15 man squad with Rajesh Bhudia making way for the in-form David Obuya to return to national colours. Ragheb Aga, who has been in fine wicket taking form and Peter Kituku are the two other players who could count themselves unlucky to have missed out. Aside from the captaincy, this is a squad that contains few surprises. David Obuya brings much needed depth to the batting while the recent form of Lameck Onyango (Ngoche) allows the selectors to sacrifice a bowler in order to do this. As announced earlier, Andy Kirsten will travel as coach for the Intercontinental Cup tie and the one day series which will consist of three games rather than two as initially thought.

Full squad:

1. Morris Ouma (Captain)
2. Jimmy Kamande (Vice Captain)
3. Kennedy Obuya
4. Alex Obanda
5. Steve Tikolo
6. Collins Obuya
7. Thomas Odoyo
8. Nehemiah Odhiambo
9. Lameck Ngoche
10. Peter Ongondo
11. Hiren Varaiya
12. Rakep Patel
13. Elijah Otieno
14. Seren Waters
15. David Obuya

Further comment to follow shortly.

Photo courtesy of Joseph Mutisya.

Still a day or so away...

Despite claims in the local press that the new Kenya Captain and squad were to be finalised on Sunday, Tom Tikolo, CEO of Cricket Kenya has informed Kenya Cricket.com via email that:

"The issue of captaincy and team to travel to Ireland will be sorted out in a day or so as all the procedures are in place.

The coach issue is still pending as we await advice from all parties concerned. Meanwhile Andy Kirsten will be going with the team to Ireland on temporary basis."

On the coach issue, this is no surprise at it was already known that Kirsten would continue to act as coach for the Ireland trip. For those waiting on selection and to hear regards the captaincy, this continues to increase the frustration. In terms of selection, it may well be that the selectors will now wait until after the next practice match, due to start today, before making their final decisions. If they had been originally planning on sending the same squad that travelled to South Africa for the World Cup qualifiers, this does make a kind of sense as at least two players not in that party, namely David Obuya and Peter Kituku, both gave indications that they should at least be under consideration for places.

So in the meanwhile, we continue to wait. At least there is the practice match and we will endeavour to bring you updates as they come through.

Current ODI ranking for current Kenyan players

Current ICC ODI Rankings for Kenya Players 21st June 2009
Today at 11:20pm
Players ranked in order of highest batting/bowling ranking:

(Player - rank - rating)

Peter Ongondo - 29th Bwl 579 (207th bat 228, 64= all rnd 132)
Thomas Odoyo - 52nd bwl 500 (83rd bat 435, 24th all rnd 218)
Steve Tikolo - 55th bat 508 (74th bwl 431, 23rd all rnd 219)
Hiren Varaiya - 59th bwl 473 (155th bat 280, 64= all rnd 132)
Alex Obanda - 78th bat 443
Jimmy Kamande - 87th bwl 401 (120th bat 349, 57th all rnd 140)
Collins Obuya - 97th bat 396 (118 bwl 303, 77th all rnd 120)
Nehemiah Odhiambo 109th bwl 330 (186 bat 240, 131 all rnd 79)
Maurice Ouma 117th bat 351
David Obuya 126th bat 330
Lameck Onyango 128 bwl 286 (151 bat 284, 170 all rnd 43)
Kennedy Otieno 130 bat 323
Seren Waters 159 bat 277
Rajesh Bhudia 173 bat 255 (178 bwl 203, 163 all rnd 52)
Elijah Otieno 208 bwl 173 (322 bat 107, 218 all rnd 19)
Rakep Patel 287 bwl 27 (328 bat 103, 275 all rnd 3)
NB Rageb Aga - not currently holding a ranking as last ODI in 2004

Overseas Roundup.

Seren Waters and Abeed Janmohamed have been at it again for the Weybridge Cricket Club this week. Playing against Guildford Cricket Club in the Premier Division of the Surrey Championship in the unusual format of 'timed' one day cricket, Waters picked up 4/86 with the ball off a marathon 22 overs, and once again backed it up with the bat contributing an aggressive 46. Janmohamed came in with team in trouble at 89/5, before contributing a fighting 52 not out. His efforts were in vain as Weybridge fell well short of the required target.

Ragheb Aga put in a solid allround performance himself for the Sussex 2nd XI this week in a One Day match against Hampshire 2nd XI. Aga blasted 23 off just 19 balls with the bat, before chipping in with 1/16 off 5 overs opening the bowling for Sussex 2nds.

Moses Otieno turning out for the Combined Services team, has been in good wicket taking form of late, including hauls of 4/39 against Cambridge University, 1/29 against Police and a 3 wicket haul against a touring side.

With the team touring Ireland to be announced today, it'll be interesting to see if any of these overseas players are included in the squad given their current form.

Is today the day?

Well according to an article in the Daily Nation it is. In the first mention of cricket in about a month the Nation has claimed that Cricket Kenya will announce the new Kenya Cricket Captain today (Sunday 21st June). No official word has actually been heard from Cricket Kenya themselves, but other sources tell me that the Captaincy interviews have been concluded and now we are just waiting on the selection comittee to make their final decision, so today does seem likely. With the team due to jet out for Ireland next Sunday, it is also likely that the travelling squad will be announced at the same time - though with the need get visas organised in advance, it may well be that this is already known to those travelling. It will be interesting to see whether the recent form in the practice game has altered any plans and if Kenya's overseas contingent (who have been in good form of late) will be included. If they are in the mix, it will be the first time for a good while that the selectors will really have to think hard about who is chosen and who will miss out. Here's hoping we see the strongest possible team to take on the Irish, we will need it.

We will endeavour to let you know as soon as we hear anything official on either team or captaincy.