Sporting Life - Kenya Cricket | Cricket World Cup, Kenya News, Kenya Scores, Kenya Profiles, Steve Tikolo, Thomas Odoyo, David Obuya, Collins Obuya.

KENYA PROFILES

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Steve Tikolo (c)

Born: 25.06.1971
ODIs: 94
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 31.03
Strike-Rate: 74.63
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: 31.58
Economy: 4.73

Tikolo is Kenya's classiest batsman, and the one player in their ranks over the past decade who could have laid claim to a place in most teams around the world. He has been involved in all his country's best displays - and has bailed them out many times too. At 35, Tikolo is still keeping his one-day international average around 30 and Kenya need him as much, if not more than ever.

Ravi Shah

Born: 28.08.1972
ODIs: 56
Role: Opening batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 27.88
Strike-Rate: 65.53
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: n/a
Economy: 7.20

Shah, one of the stars of Kenya's improbable run to the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup, looked highly unlikely to return to the game following a serious knee injury three years ago. The stylish right-handed opener is back, though, bringing with him a little renewed confidence that Kenya may do themselves proud again.

Maurice Ouma

Born: 09.11.1982
ODIs: 26
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 18.36
Strike-Rate: 53.74
Bowl: Right-arm offspin
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

Kenya hope Ouma, a part-time wicketkeeper but full-time batsman, will be a mainstay of their new era. His ODI returns so far give him scope for improvement.

Tanmay Mishra

Born: 22.12.1986
ODIs: 28
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 31.72
Strike-Rate: 73.47
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: n/a
Economy: 12.00

Another youngster carrying many of Kenya's hopes for the future, Mumbai-born Mishra is a batsman thought capable of making a name for himself in international cricket.

Collins Obuya

Born: 27.07.1981
ODIs: 52
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 17.08
Strike-Rate: 66.59
Bowl: Right-arm legspin
Average: 46.57
Economy: 5.19

One-time leg-spinning all-rounder Obuya's 13 wickets in Kenya's astounding 2003 World Cup campaign helped to convince Warwickshire he was worth a punt as an overseas player. That did not work out, and his bowling is very much on the wane. Obuya plays now as a specialist middle-order batsman.

Lameck Onyango

Born: 22.09.1973
ODIs: 11
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 10.00
Strike-Rate: 67.41
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: 30.50
Economy: 6.24

Onyango's role in the Kenya side has never been decided. Despite a career stretching back to 1997, he has failed to impress as either a seamer or a batsman who has been employed in many different positions. Still trying to find his cricketing niche at the age of 33.

Malhar Patel

Born: 27.11.1983
ODIs: 3
Role: Batsman
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 13.33
Strike-Rate: 42.10
Bowl: n/a
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

Patel's short career so far has spanned Kenya's 18-month international isolation - and, as such, the jury remains out on the potential of the young batsman.

Jimmy Kamande

Born: 12.12.1978
ODIs: 42
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 14.11
Strike-Rate: 55.45
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: 48.15
Economy: 4.80

Formerly a seam bowler, Kamande has had to reinvent himself as an off-spinning all-rounder - after being reported for having a suspect action in his initial guise.

Rajesh Bhudia

Born: 22.11.1984
ODIs: 0
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: n/a
Strike-Rate: n/a
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

India-born all-rounder Bhudia has been plucked from obscurity. Only 22, he has only a handful of first-class and List A matches under his belt - in which he has hinted at ability as a medium-pacer who bats a little too.

Thomas Odoyo

Born: 12.05.1978
ODIs: 93
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 24.26
Strike-Rate: 69.33
Bowl: Rt-arm fast-med
Average: 30.98
Economy: 4.68

Labelled 'the black Botham' in his youth, Odoyo has had a long career as a pace-bowling all-rounder and has been a lynchpin of the team alongside the likes of Tikolo and Shah. He has more than 1,500 ODI runs to his name and is approaching 100 wickets.

Tony Suji

Born: 05.02.1976
ODIs: 54
Role: All-rounder
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 13.50
Strike-Rate: 52.31
Bowl: Right-arm medium
Average: 59.42
Economy: 5.53

Suji, younger brother of fellow Kenya mainstay Martin, has rarely threatened to contribute significantly despite his all-rounder status. A pace bowler and middle-order batsman, he rose above previous mediocrity with a maiden first-class hundred against Bermuda in the 2005 Intercontinental Cup semi-final.

David Obuya

Born: 14.08.1979
ODIs: 43
Role: Wicketkeeper
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 19.55
Strike-Rate: 62.26
Bowl: n/a
Average: n/a
Economy: n/a

Brother of Collins, Obuya is likely to be first-choice keeper at the World Cup. Obuya himself was a long-term understudy to his other brother Kennedy Otieno. Having made his debut six years ago, he could do with some consistent batting to cement his new-found position as a regular.

Nehemiah Odhiambo

Born: 07.08.1983
ODIs: 17
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 15.77
Strike-Rate: 73.19
Bowl: Rt-arm fast-med
Average: 52.40
Economy: 5.42

A younger brother of Onyango, Odhiambo is a promising pace bowler capable of chipping in with handy runs down the order.

Peter Ongondo

Born: 10.02.1977
ODIs: 50
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 10.37
Strike-Rate: 64.31
Bowl: Rt-arm fast-med
Average: 27.07
Economy: 4.51

Ongondo has developed into a canny seam bowler who gives little away and can swing the ball at a decent pace. He can also club his share of runs as a tail-end batsman.

Hiren Varaiya

Born: 09.04.1984
ODIs: 18
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Average: 26.00
Strike-Rate: 36.11
Bowl: Left-arm slow
Average: 23.32
Economy: 3.52

Young left-arm orthodox Varaiya struck with his first delivery in international cricket, against Canada. His statistics so far in an embryonic international career suggest he could have a significant talent with the ball, but not with the willow (his average is distorted by only being dismissed once).