Kenya
Kenya are the form team in recent years outside the test playing nations, & only won the World Cricket League last week. They miss Otieno & Modi from the last WC but looking down the side theres about 7 that still survive. After realising that I thought at first they'd be too old to challenge possibly, but looking through the squad only 5 players are over 28 as a lot of the 2003 side were very young then.
Kenya squad Steve Tikolo (capt), Thomas Odoyo (vice-captain), Ravindu Shah, Tanmay Mishra, Collins Obuya, Peter Ongondo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Maurice Ouma, Malhar Patel, Hiren Varaiya, David Obuya (wk), Rajesh Bhudia, Jimmy Kamande, Tony Suji, Lameck Onyango.
Kenyas record overall reads 91 ODIs, won 26, lost 63 with 2 no results. It shows how theyve improved however that 18 of those wins have come in the last 50 games. Of the 26 wins, 13 have come abroad, but only 4 have been against the main 8 test playing nations in 42 matches (SL & WIs once apiece & India twice)
Temper all that against theyve only beaten Zimbabwe 3 times in 20 although obviously that could be misleading, & Bangladesh 6 in 14 which isnt bad although theyve lost the last 7.
They got to the semis of the last WC & thats the thing that puts me off tbh, its hard to see them doing that well again. A lot will depend on the semi all-rounders like Obuya & Odoyo, & Shah & the one class act in Tikolo must stand up to stand a chance.
Its difficult to see it but I think they can target the loser of NZ/England whilst they themselves thump Canada & I think they can again give someone a fright.
After Englands recent resurgence their confidence might be too high but I think on a good day they might catch NZ unawares as I'm not sure all is well in the Kiwi camp
Kenya in the last World Cup
1 Ken 140 38 50 - L World Cup 6 v SA in SA 2002/03 at Potchefstroom [
1947]
2 SA 142/0 21.2 50 141 W
1 Can 197 49 50 - L World Cup 12 v Can in SA 2002/03 at Cape Town (d/n) [
1952]
2 Ken 198/6 48.3 50 198 W
1 Ken 210/9 50 50 - W World Cup 26 v SL in Ken 2002/03 at Nairobi (Gym) [
1965]
2 SL 157 45 50 211 L
1 Ken 217/7 50 50 - W World Cup 35 v BD in SA 2002/03 at Johannesburg [
1974]
2 BD 185 47.2 50 218 L
1 WI 246/7 50 50 - W World Cup 42 v WI in SA 2002/03 at Kimberley [
1981]
2 Ken 104 35.5 50 247 L
1 Ken 225/6 50 50 - L World Cup Su v Ind in SA 2002/03 at Cape Town (d/n) [
1983]
2 Ind 226/4 47.5 50 226 W
1 Zim 133 44.1 50 - L World Cup Su v Zim in SA 2002/03 at Bloemfontein [
1987]
2 Ken 135/3 26 50 134 W
1 Ken 174/8 50 50 - L World Cup Su v Aus in SA 2002/03 at Durban (d/n) [
1990]
2 Aus 178/5 31.2 50 175 W
1 Ind 270/4 50 50 - W World Cup SF v Ind in SA 2002/03 at Durban (d/n) [
1992]
2 Ken 179 46.2 50 271 L