Kenya National Cricket Team

In recent years Kenya has been the most successful team of the second tier cricketing nations, consistently standing up to some of the biggest names in the sport and engineering the occasional spectacular upset. Whilst the Kenyan team is yet to achieve test status, many would argue that the team is more deserving of full membership of the Cricket Council (International) than some of the teams currently sitting at cricket’s top table.

Captain: Steve Tikolo
Best Cricket World Cup Performance: semifinals (2003)

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World Cup - World Cup Winner -
India	10/3	10/3	10/3	10/3	3	7/2	10/3	10/3	10/3	3
England	5	5	5	11/2	5	5	5	5	5	9/2
Australia	9/2	9/2	11/2	5	11/2	9/2	9/2	11/2	5	11/2
South Africa	11/2	11/2	5	5	11/2	11/2	11/2	5	11/2	5
Sri Lanka	5	5	9/2	9/2	9/2	5	5	9/2	5	5
Pakistan	15/2	9	15/2	11	8	8	9	8	9	9
New Zealand	12	18	20	17	16	14	18	18	14	14
West Indies	17	16	16	19	20	16	16	22	16	20
Bangladesh	33	40	33	43	40	50	40	40	50	50
Zimbabwe	175	150	250	259	200	150	150	150	200	300
Ireland	499	500	500	379	500	500	500	500	500	750
Kenya	999	-	-	639	1000	-	-	1000	1000	750
Canada	-	-	-	639	1000	-	-	2000	1000	1000
Netherlands	999	-	-	639	1000	-	-	2000	1000	1000

2011 Cricket World Cup

Kenya - Cricket World Cup The Kenyan national cricket team is currently emerging from a turbulent period, which has seen many of the gains made at the 2003 Cricket World Cup eroded by political infighting and limited exposure to top class opposition. Nevertheless, the Kenyans’ greatest strength is their fighting spirit, and other teams at the 2011 Cricket World Cup will underestimate the Kenyans at their peril.

Cricket World Cup History

Kenya provided the bulk of the players to the East African team for the first Cricket World Cup in 1975. The East Africans were one of two non-test playing teams invited to the tournament, and predictably failed to win a single match against any of the established test playing nations.

The East African team failed to qualify for the Cricket World Cup in 1979, and shortly afterwards Kenya withdrew from the East African team to become an independent associate member of the Cricket Council (International). Whilst this move spurred the development of Kenyan cricket, the team was unable to secure qualification for a Cricket World Cup until 1996.

The Kenyans made their Cricket World Cup debut in 1996. This campaign will be remembered for the Kenyans’ defeat of eventual semi-finalists, the West Indies, in the group stages – a result many regard as one of the biggest upsets in the history of One Day International cricket.

The Kenyan national cricket team produced a forgettable performance at the 1999 Cricket World Cup, losing every match they played to finish with the wooden spoon in their group. However, the tournament did lay the basis for Kenya’s greatest cricketing achievement.

In 2003 the Kenyan national cricket team travelled to South Africa to contest their third Cricket World Cup. The Kenyans proceeded to defeat Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Canada in the group stages of the tournament, with a walkover victory against New Zealand guaranteeing them a place in the Super Sixes. While the Kenyans won only 1 match in the Super Sixes, this was good enough to secure them 3rd place and a place in the semifinals.

With the South African crowds behind them, Kenya stood on the verge of making cricket history when they faced India in the second semifinal at Newlands. However, it was not to be for the Kenyans, as a powerful Indian side subdued them, and they eventually lost by 6 wickets.

Disruptions to the domestic game cost Kenya dearly in the interval between the 2003 and 2007 Cricket World Cups. The gains made in South Africa were steadily eroded, and a significantly weaker team travelled to the Caribbean in 2007. They won only one match, defeating Canada in the group stage before exiting in the 1st round.