TODAY AND TOMORROW!!!!

When one witnessed a very spirited performance by the Dutch yesterday, the Kenyans were a huge disappointment today. The result of the Pakistan versus Kenya was expected but one would have wanted a much better performance from the Kenyans. They certainly did better than the New Zealand game but it isn’t just good enough for a team that was once a World Cup semi finalists.

The problem in Kenyan cricket as pointed out by me in a previous post is their lack of exposure at the international level. They play ODI cricket round the year but mainly against the other associates or against Bangladesh. The Kenyan side that played the 2003 World Cup final used to play against the full time members of the ICC quite regularly. All that experience helped them complete a fairytale journey in the Rainbow Nation. When you look at the Kenyan side today you will see that most of the players haven’t played enough against the full time members. Apart from Odoyo, Tikolo and the Obuya brothers, the others haven’t faced the likes of India, Pakistan, Australia all that often. What this has done is that it has left the newcomers in the Kenyan team struggle at this level. Some of the mistakes they made today were elementary and just goes to highlight their inexperience. There were too many extras for the liking and at the international level that is something one must really avoid. Not much to talk about their batting as well, Collins Obuya was the only one who looked comfortable. Seren Waters looked good at the start and if he can improve in the next few games then Kenya will certainly score more runs than they have till now.

Overall, it was a very clinical performance by the Pakistan team. Their openers didn’t perform but the batsmen who followed showed great maturity in building the innings. The batting order that they had today is I think their best combination. Hafeez and Shehzad opened followed by Akmal and Younis Khan. Younis Khan’s role is that of an accumulator and he did that job really well after the fall of early wickets. The Pakistan team would have to bat around him in the coming matches as he can provide them with solidity. Misbah and Akmal were good as they accelerated without taking too many risks. Misbah however should be careful in the matches to come as he played too many reverse sweeps today. Against a better spin bowling attack he may not be able to connect all. There is nothing much to say about their bowling as the score says it all. All they need to do is find consistency.

The game was very one sided today and there isn’t more to write about it so I would just preview tomorrow’s game between South Africa and the West Indies. West Indies may not be as strong as they were but the presence of some game changers makes them a very dangerous unit. They haven’t been helped by the injuries to Barath and Baugh and it was surprising to see that they selected the inexperienced Devon Thomas to don the keeping gloves. If I was a selector I would prefer Denesh Ramdhin simply for his experience.
The batting line up of West Indies is almost an easy pick. Gayle, Sarwan, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo and Chanderpaul are certainties. With Barath out injured, they should pick Devon Smith to open the batting with Chris Gayle. Devon Thomas would be the seventh batsman and the wicket-keeper. The fast bowling attack should comprise of the captain Sammy, Andre Russell and Kemar Roach. They have to chose between the two left armers to play the role of the spinners. Miller and Benn are the two contenders and we have to wait and see as to who plays.

If West Indies are to do well tomorrow then the onus is on their batting. There are some dangerous players in that batting order and on their day they can literally reduce the bowlers to tears. The problem is their bowling. Jerome Taylor is missing and that according to me is a huge blow as the fast bowling attack isn’t very experienced. Kemar Roach may do well as he has raw pace but he has to be well supported by Sammy and Russell. Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo would have to complete the quota of the fifth bowler.

The South African team looks really formidable despite the fact that only four of them have World Cup experience. When you look at such a strong side you would be surprised to know that the likes of Amla, Steyn, Morkel and Duminy are playing their first World Cup. The Proteas eleven for tomorrow should be the same they fielded in the last two ODI’s against India last month. The only change being the return of Jaques Kallis. Smith, Amla, Kallis, de Villiers, Duminy, Van Wyk, Botha, Peterson, Steyn, Morkel and Tsotsobe should be the playing eleven for tomorrow. There is speculation that Imran Tahir would play but I don’t think it would be a right move as Peterson plays the role of the extra batsman. They do not have a hard hitting all rounder at no.7 after Albie Morkel was dropped which makes it important to play Peterson who can give the ball a whack.

Just on the basis of the bowling, South Africa should win but when you have Gayle in your team you cannot predict what he can do to the best bowling attack. I am more interested to see how the Feroz Shah Kotla pitch would play. Nobody would forget the India Sri Lanka game of late 2009 and a few IPL games. Hopefully, it plays well….all answers tomorrow.