The co-hosts may have their troubles after losing to Pakistan
on Saturday by 11 runs, a match they were widely tipped beforehand to win but
nothing compared to the east Africans.
Not only have they crashed to 10-wicket and 205-run defeats to
New Zealand and Pakistan respectively, but Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar
suggested that coach Eldine Baptiste had fallen out with his senior players.
Inamdar said that Baptiste had his own way of doing things
which has not "gone down well" with some of the senior players.
Baptiste, meanwhile, has asked the players to go back to basics
after their 205-run thrashing by Pakistan.
"We were not up to the mark in all three departments
and in cricket whatever you do you have to stick to the basics, and when you
play any international side you don't spurn your good starts," said
Baptiste.
"It's about being persistent and at the moment we are
just not doing that." Of the four associate member teams
participating in the World Cup, Kenya have been shown to be the weakest having
being shot out for 69 in their opening game against New Zealand.
Sri Lanka have so far badly missed the services of fast bowler
Lasith Malinga who is expected to play his first World Cup match to get some
kind of rhythm against Australia on Saturday. He should cash in with some easy
wickets.
"Lasith is improving. I think he is going to be back
with us very shortly. We just didn't want to risk him over this match," Sri
Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said after the Pakistan game.
Sri Lanka have one win over minnows Canada and another over Kenya
will lift spirits again and give them a loosener at least for Saturday's match
against holders and four-time winners Australia which should be another
humdinger.
Kenya are the only associate side of this World Cup, which have
a win over Sri Lanka. That victory was achieved in the 2003 World Cup but since
then Kenyan cricket has been on the slide as is all too evident here.
