Tikolo pleads for more matches as Kenya exit World Cup by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 25th March 2007

 

Kenya captain Steve Tikolo said it was vital the Africans played more major international matches if they were to progress as a cricket nation after they went out of the World Cup with a seven-wicket defeat against England.

 

Whoever won Saturday's clash at the Beausejour Cricket Ground were assured of joining Group C winners New Zealand in the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

 

But although the experienced Tikolo scored 76, after winning the toss and batting, no other Kenyan made more than 17 as they were bowled out for 177 in a match reduced by rain to 43 overs per side.

 

"We need more games. I've been saying this since time immemorial," a frustrated Tikolo told reporters. "You can't come here without playing at this level consistently.

 

"If you look at our calendar now we have the Twenty20 World Cup (in South Africa) in September. But between now and September there's nothing for us. You can't compete like that."

 

Tikolo said the Test nations had to make room in their own schedules, drawn up in response to the International Cricket Council's 10-year plan if the likes of Kenya were to improve their standards.

 

"I think our board has been talking to the ICC but the excuse we always get is that the Test countries are busy with their 10-year calendar. But if you want the other countries to come up you need to give them more games."

 

Tikolo, asked if he would play in a fifth World Cup in 2011 when the tournament will be staged in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, said: "That's a tough one. We'll see how my body goes.

 

"But I still want to play for Kenya for the next few years and see this team grow into a good unit."

 

And he insisted he took little personal satisfaction from his innings against England, his 20th fifty in 94 matches at this level.

 

"I would have been happy if the team had done well. I'm looking at the team goal and that's more important than personal landmarks."

 

Reflecting on Saturday's match, Tikolo - whose team beat Canada by seven wickets and lost to New Zealand by 148 runs - said: "I thought the guys played well given we had a relatively young team but looking at game we didn't get the partnerships going and that was the key. 177 on this wicket wasn't enough."

 

Many observers were surprised by the 35-year-old's decision to bat first on a ground where rain may well have freshened up the pitch.

 

"I thought the wicket looked fairly good for batting. The decision to bat was valid, we just lost wickets at regular intervals," Tikolo explained.

 

Both Kenya and England suffered convincing defeats against New Zealand.

 

But Tikolo said England could make an impact during the Super Eights.

 

"They are a professional unit and anything is possible in the one-day game. We saw them do well in Australia so they are capable."

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)