DURBAN, South Africa, 14 March 2003 — Kenya have picked up another set of brothers on the road to the World Cup semifinal, but not everyone is happy about it. Former South African Test batsman Peter Kirsten has been passing on tips to the team as a favor to brother, Andrew, who works as assistant to coach Sandeep Patil. But skipper Steve Tikolo is reportedly not that overjoyed by the Kirsten influence. “I have been to the nets and have spoken to one or two of the players. Obviously I don’t want to interfere too much because Sandeep Patil is the coach and Andy the assistant coach,” Peter Kirsten told the SAPA news agency. “But I have said to Tikolo to cut out the hook shot and to move his feet early. Yet, Steve keeps on getting out off the hook shot. He’s been out in that fashion on at least two occasions.” But Kirsten is full of praise for the Kenyan side which is full of brothers — Kennedy, Collins and David Obuya as well as Martin and Tony Suji. “They have been very disciplined in their bowling. They don’t stray, they restrict the half volleys and no-balls and have been very accurate,” he said.
Tendulkar Back as No. 1, Bond Makes His Mark
JOHANNESBURG, 14 March 2003 — India’s Sachin Tendulkar has leapt back to the top of the world one-day batting ratings after his fine form at the World Cup. Tendulkar, already with a tournament record of 571 runs at an average of 71.37 and with up to three games still to play, displaced Australia opener Matthew Hayden, who slipped to third. New Zealand strike bowler Shane Bond moved up 31 places to 11th in the PricewaterhouseCoopers bowling rankings after his career-best six for 23 against Australia at Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. New Zealand play India at Centurion today, hoping to join them as well as Australia and Kenya in the World Cup semifinals. Kenya’s medium-pacer Martin Suji, one of the most economical bowlers of the tournament, jumped 16 places to 13th, by far the best rating ever achieved by a player from a non-Test playing country. Kenya reached the last four of the World Cup.
Kiwis and Sri Lanka Shake and Wait
JOHANNESBURG, 14 March 2003 — With Australia, India and Kenya already guaranteed a place in the semifinals of the World Cup, New Zealand and Sri Lanka face a nervous two days before they learn their fate. The Kiwis, with eight points in the Super Sixes table, can guarantee their place in the last four and a match-up against the world champions Australia if they defeat India at Centurion today. But if they slip-up, then Sanath Jayasuriya’s Sri Lanka, the 1996 winners, can secure a place by defeating already eliminated Zimbabwe in East London tomorrow. Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming, in an effort to gain a psychological edge, has already tried to unsettle India by reminding them of the demoralizing series of defeats they suffered three months ago. Saurav Ganguly’s men were thrashed 2-0 in the Tests and 5-2 in the one-dayers on the tour of New Zealand in December and January, but India have looked a different team here winning seven of their eight World Cup matches so far.
Kenya New Kings of African Cricket: Media
NAIROBI, 14 March 2003 — Kenyan newspapers yesterday hailed the country’s seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe to qualify for the semifinals of the World Cup, proclaiming the team to be the new kings of African cricket. “Kudos to the cricket team,” cheered the editorial writer of the Daily Nation, Kenya’s most popular newspaper, which introduced a front-page story with the sentence: ‘Kenya are the new kings of African cricket.’ “Kenya underscores their ability to attain full Test status ... they earned a place in the 2003 World Cup semifinals, where they join top dogs Australia and India,” wrote the Daily Nation. It denounced the “arrogance” of the cricket elite nations. “When Kenya became the first non-Test country to advance to the second round, arrogance among the tournament’s Western participants had it that it was mere luck,” the paper said. “However, captain Steve Tikolo and his boys have now fiercely ended that talk. Kenya have advanced to the semifinals by beating three Test-playing cricket superpowers — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe,” the newspaper wrote. Once again, the Daily Nation criticized New Zealand’s refusal to play in Nairobi, saying the security concerns cited by the Kiwis “made no sense because the Western countries, including England, risk such threats much more.” The East African Standard described Kenya’s success as “historic”. The People Daily, a regular critic of the way Kenyan cricket is run, said the Kenyan team’s victory over Zimbabwe was an “achievement of seismic proportions for a country that went to World Cup as an underdog.”
Shoaib and Lee Head Pace Race
JOHANNESBURG, 14 March 2003 — Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee of Australia have confirmed their places as the world’s fastest bowlers by sending down the quickest deliveries at the World Cup. According to official statistics released yesterday, they are the only two bowlers to have broken the 160kmh mark. Shoaib’s fastest delivery took the speed gun up to 161.3kmh in Pakistan’s match against England, while Lee came close to matching his pace rival, also against England, where his top speed was clocked at 160.7kmh. Third fastest bowler is New Zealand’s Shane Bond whose quickest delivery of 153.4kmh was unleashed against Canada with West Indies’ Jermaine Lawson just a fraction behind. Fastest recorded deliveries by bowlers from each country: Australia: Brett Lee 160.7kmh vs. England; Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza 139.5kmh vs. Canada; Canada: Davis Joseph 140.5kmh vs. Bangladesh; England: James Anderson 144kmh vs. Australia; Netherlands: Edger Schiferli 138.4kmh vs. Namibia; India: Ashish Nehra 149.7kmh vs. Zimbabwe; Kenya: Thomas Odoyo 135.1kmh vs. Bangladesh; Namibia: Gerrie Snyman 138.2kmh vs. Pakistan; New Zealand: Shane Bond 153.4kmh vs. Canada; Pakistan: Shoaib Akhtar 161.3kmh vs. England; South Africa: Makhaya Ntini 149.4kmh vs. Sri Lanka; Sri Lanka: Dilhara Fernando 147.9kmh vs. Bangladesh; West Indies: Jermaine Lawson 153.2kmh vs. Kenya; Zimbabwe: Andy Blignaut 145.6kmh vs. New Zealand.
Odumbe Wants to Go On.....and On
BLOEMFONTEIN, 14 March 2003 — Former Kenyan skipper Maurice Odumbe is having so much fun at the World Cup that he wants to play in the 2011 tournament — at the age of 42. Odumbe, a veteran from the 1996 World Cup, is an integral part of his team’s push. “This is just a dream come true,” said the 34-year-old. “It’s the sweetest World Cup for all of us. We have beaten Test-playing nations and we are in the second round for the first time. I’ve targeted the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies and will look at my health before deciding whether or not I will play in the 2011 tournament. I have a few niggling injuries but I don’t think that will hold me back. I’m enjoying the game — it’s a tremendous sport and I will play as long as I can, provided my country needs me,” Odumbe told the Johannesburg Star.
World Cup Semifinal Pitch to be Reviewed
PORT ELIZABETH, 14 March 2003 — World Cup organizers have ordered a review of the slow pitch at the St. George’s Park which will host the first semifinal next Tuesday. The review follows criticism from Australian captain Ricky Ponting after the defending champions escaped defeat twice against England in the first round and on Tuesday against New Zealand in the Super Sixes.
