Test Status for Kenya?

[BigCrickNan]

Does anyone think it would be a good idea to give Kenya test status sometime during the next decade or so? They certainly have a good outfit and I think they can match or even better the likes of Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. I'm not saying straight after the World Cup, but after a few more years of development in their team.

 

[Cricketman]

Of course. IMO they're far better then the likes of Bangladesh. To beat Sri Lanka and Windies in the World Cup is not easy, even for a test team. I say the quicker the better, Tikolo is aging, and I want to see him captain the Kenyan side in their first test match

 

[Ponting_14]

Does anyone think it would be a good idea to give Kenya test status sometime during the next decade or so? They certainly have a good outfit and I think they can match or even better the likes of Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. I'm not saying straight after the World Cup, but after a few more years of development in their team.

Why not, get them in there.

 

[Griffo]

they are better than Zimbabwe atm I would like to see tikolo play a test before he retires but they arent as good as bangladesh

 

[Prince EWS]

Bangaldesh have improved significantly in recent times, and they are infinitely better than Kenya at this stage. In saying that, given the time, support, infrastructure, stability and opportunities Bangladesh have been given, I'm of the opinion that Kenya would be at a higher level of aptitude than Bangladesh right now.. but that didn't happen so it's useless discussing such.

Kenya may have a pretty solid side, but they really aren't good enough for test cricket. Bangladesh quite obviously aren't either, however the signs are there that they are improving to such a standard - their players are young, their Under 19s carve up, the have money in the game there, they have a stable system and they have the infrastructure available to progress. Kenya don't have any of these things really.

Zimbabwe is a totally different story, but it's just that - totally different. Remove the political woes of the country and they'd be as good as the West Indies IMO - as it is, they shouldn't be near test cricket though... Scotland and Ireland would even be better candidates than Zim at this stage IMO, but once you give test status to a team, it's hard to take it away.

 

[Griffo]

but what do u have to do to get the politics in zimbabwe sorted i dont even know what is wrong over there

 

[Prince EWS]

but what do u have to do to get the politics in zimbabwe sorted i dont even know what is wrong over there

You can't get it sorted really - it's not the responsibility of the ICC to fix the political issues of its test playing nations. If they can't field a decent side and don't look like doing so in the foreseeable future, they shouldn't be playing test cricket. This certainly applies to Zimbabwe IMO but it really is easier said than done to kick them out. Given though, they've placed a self-inflicted test ban on themselves which has lasted a while now... hopefully common sense prevails and they keep it like that until such a time when they can field a side worthy of test cricket.

 

[andrew_nixon]

Kenya Test status? Not right now. They're just not good enough in first-class cricket. Look at their Intercontinental Cup performances:

2004: Knocked out in semi-final by Scotland
2005: Lost in final to Ireland
2006: Knocked out in first round without a win.

 

[Dare]

i think that the minnows should be able to play tests between each other, you cant improve your side by just playing ODIs. maybe have their own tournaments and stuff like the one in Kenya, their stats would be counted but not into the offical test stats. i kno that its hard for the minnows to organise that because most of their players have reall jobs and cant afford to be avay for a long time but atleast 4 day matches or things of that sort.

 

[andrew_nixon]

i think that the minnows should be able to play tests between each other, you cant improve your side by just playing ODIs. maybe have their own tournaments and stuff like the one in Kenya, their stats would be counted but not into the offical test stats. i kno that its hard for the minnows to organise that because most of their players have reall jobs and cant afford to be avay for a long time but atleast 4 day matches or things of that sort.

They already do that.

And the term is associates, not minnows.

 

[BigCrickNan]

Yep I think these teams need more first class games, it's amazing how players like Tikolo have only played 38 first-class games. Something similar to the full international scene where you would have like tours of 4/5 ODIs and 3 FC matches or something.

 

[andrew_nixon]

have like tours of 4/5 ODIs and 3 FC matches or something.

Can't do that. With the exception of Kenya and the odd Canada, Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands player, they're all amateurs and have jobs to go to.

 

[Cowburn199]

I think they deserve it. They may not be the best time or even above average but they can play and it would be good experience.

 

[Brian Lara_06]

I dont think they deserve it because they would just lose all the time like Bangladesh do

 

[sohum]

I'm not of the opinion that we should give Kenya test status. Most of the names in Kenyan cricket are names we have been hearing for a while now--Tikolo, the Obuya (previously Otieno) brothers, Odoyo, Sujis. These guys have been around for almost 2 world cups (right?) before this one. Which means they won't be around for much longer. I believe there was some discussion on this at PC earlier, which basically showed Kenya did not produce any good new cricketers.

I don't think this is the correct time to give Kenya test status because they simply cannot prove that they will be able to churn out quality players year after year.