da fazobetai： Does Kenya’s success at Associate level mask a more deep-rooted problem with the game’s promotion and youth development in the country?

da marjack bet： Will Luke in Nairobi05-Feb-2007

Ravindu Shah: ‘We just have to make the most ofevery opportunity that we get to play’© Getty Images
Until they lost to Scotland on Sunday, Kenya have owned thistournament. Their thrilling run-chase to beat Ireland was as good asit gets in one-day cricket, with a celebration to match. But doestheir success at Associate level mask a more deep-rooted problem withthe game’s promotion and youth development in the country?”The problem is the length between schools cricket and club cricket,”Ravindu Shah, the Kenya batsman, told Cricinfo at the Aga Khan SportsClub this week. “You need to assign three or four schools to eachclub, and use that as the feeder system. That’s where the breakdownis. The problem isn’t with a lack of schools cricket.”I played cricket in school. And I was in school in 1989. I can’tremember a time when cricket in schools has decreased. [In fact] it’sincredible how much schools cricket there is. A lot of time and efforthas gone into putting coaches in, but what next for them?”Shah speaks in the same manner with which he bats: calmly, patientlywaiting for the bad balls (or stray questions) before dispatching themwith flamboyance. He has made it to the top but is only too aware ofthe next generation’s treacherous path to national success.”The responsibility isn’t just with Cricket Kenya though,” he said.”It’s the provinces, the clubs – it’s a combination of people andinstitutions that need to take responsibility. If you don’t play clubcricket, you don’t have a chance of playing youth cricket; for theprovincial sides; for the national side. Only club cricketers havethat opportunity.”Shah got his opportunity and took it. A knee injury forced him out ofcricket for nearly two years, inadvertently re-igniting his passion forthe game. But what of Kenya’s fortunes as the leading Associate? Dotournaments such as the World Cricket League have limited value forKenya who are, effectively, playing five weaker sides?”Well,” he sighs, “it’s the same old song we’ve been singing: askingfor more games. It’s great that the Associates get to play amongthemselves, but for the next Associate to join the Test teams, we needto play against better sides. The [new] Associates coming in want tobeat Kenya, but we too want to play more against the Test teams.That’s the only way we’re going to improve.”But we don’t have much of a choice. We just have to make the most ofevery opportunity that we get to play.”That sentiment is shared by nearly every team in this tournament: theyare not playing each other nearly as much as they should, or would liketo. As Kenya finished their training session at the Aga Khan ground,the Ireland players arrived, one of whom walked past and greeted Shah.Once out of earshot, he later admitted he wasn’t even sure who he was.It spoke volumes.Shah remains positive, even buoyant about their World Cup prospects.The delicious prospect of a carefree Kenya facing off against ademoralised England was flat-batted cautiously, although a wry grinsuggested he and his team-mates cannot wait for the encounter.”If you look at the team today,” he said, “you have got four guys whoare less than 22. All four spent a month at the winter camp andthey’re playing in the first team. There is youth coming through aswell as experience – there’s a very good mix. And in the 30 that werepicked, there was some youth there too. It bodes well. I’m positive.”Positive he might be, but problems exist and need to be addressed. Thegap between schools and club cricket could be the bridge which, whenbuilt, announces Kenya as a world force. When (or how) this willhappen, however, is another matter entirely.