Patil: It's not talent that is lacking in Kenyan cricket

They might be the minnows of one-day cricket, but Kenya sure take their game seriously. They train as hard as anyone else and their coach, former India Test cricketer Sandeep Patil is as keen as anyone else. Although their record is not anything to write home about, Kenya has shown more than once that they have the ability to surprise.

In this edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy, they kick off their campaign against the West Indies. Naturally this fixture will invoke interest, in the light of Kenya's dramatic win against the West Indies in 1996. Steve Tikolo, captain of the side, was quick to point out that the match would be vital to both sides. "It's a crucial game for us. With just one win you can go through to the next round. I would like to say that the boys are geared up for the match against the West Indies. We're focused and it's nice to be in this tournament."

Looking back to the World Cup triumph against the West Indies in 1996, Tikolo added: "I have very happy memories from the 1996 victory. Obviously though, things have changed since then both in out team and in the West Indies team. We're just thinking about our game and going into the match with full confidence. The victory itself is something I remember and the manner in which we went about our bowling and our fielding. That won us the game on the day."

The Kenyans will be hoping, and praying, that they call pull off a similar win a few days from now. But, miracles apart, the side has made great progress since then, stresses Patil. "I'm certainly happy that we have taken a half step forward in every tournament that we have played. We had a good tournament just recently in Nairobi playing against teams like Australia and Pakistan. Here also we had a good tour earlier this year against Sri Lanka A. It's not the first time the boys will be playing in these conditions. The confidence levels are high after the recent tournament at Kenya and we can put up a good show."

Assessing his team's chances, Patil talked about how much depended on how well the Kenyans wielded the willow. "A lot depends on our batting. It has to come good and we have to put runs on the board. Whoever bats well and puts runs on the board will succeed. I'm not saying this is a worry for us, but we will have to do well with the bat."

After talking about the relative strengths and weaknesses of their batting and bowling, Patil explained where the real problem lay. "We have been appealing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) through our board to organise more fixtures for us. We need more exposure and more experience playing at this level. That is what is lacking in Kenyan cricket. It's not talent that we lack. When you're competing at this level you can't be playing with state sides and A teams all the time. You have to play against the best and we hardly get opportunities to compete against top sides."

As is always the case when Kenya play a tournament, searching questions are asked about the side's Test ambitions. On this count, Patil was convinced of his team's place in world cricket. "The talent that this team has deserves to play Test cricket. It's not in our hands however. Our job is to play as well as we can in the one-dayers and push our case. It is up to the ICC to recognize our talent. I'm pretty sure that Kenya deserves to get Test status."

When one journalist attempted to get Patil to compare Kenya and Bangladesh, given the latter's lack of success despite being granted Test status, Patil would not be drawn in. He simply said, "I'm not going to comment about Bangladesh. It's good for them to have got Test status and I'm happy for them."