• Preliminary matches in Kenya - Did you know?

Positions on the field would make most maidens blush. There are fine legs, even long fine legs, mid-offs, silly mid-offs, silly mid-ons, and square legs!

On the 08 February 2003 the Cricket World Cup, the "one day World Cup Series" begins, with the finals being played in South Africa on the 23 March 2003. However, for cricket fans, it’s worth knowing that two of the preliminary matches between Kenya and New Zealand, on the 21 February, and Kenya versus Sri Lanka on the 24 February will be played at Nairobi Gymkhana Club in Kenya. This is an ideal opportunity to see two of the World’s top cricket teams play in Nairobi.

Those, who like my wife, think Cricket is impossibly dull, can be reminded that Cricket was first played in 1787 and was a gentleman’s game until the likes of Jardine, and his bowlers Larwood and Voce, introduced the fast bodyline bowling in the 1932 /33 Ashes tour to Australia. The tactic caused a major rift in the Anglo-Australian relations and in the final match mounted police had to be called to control the crowd! This heralded the beginning of the hostile bowling which we see so often today, and which has now been taken up and perfected by the Australians against the England team who now pack a stretcher as part of their sports kit! This as a precaution after the recent Ashes series in November 2002 when an English player was carried off the pitch in each of the three (that’s all it took) matches of the series!

But more on the history of this gentleman’s game. For the uninformed, the home of cricket is the MCC or Marylebone Cricket Club, which was formed in 1814 and resides at the Lords ground in Middlesex, England.

The MCC is presided over by some venerable old gentlemen who oversee the rules of fair play. This included expelling Jeffrey Archer, one-time Chairman of the Conservative party and candidate for the Lord Mayorship of London, from its membership for lying about his liaisons with a prostitute no less. However, these gentlemen have only recently permitted women to become members of the MCC in the last 5 years, although they have yet to allow them into the Long Room (the bar). These same sporting old boys, having now lost the Ashes Series against the Australians for the last 16 years, still refuse to hand over the trophy !

What are the Ashes anyway? Reputed to be the ashes of the bails (although there is some evidence that it was the ball) which were ceremoniously burnt in 1882 after England conceded their first ever defeat to the Australians!

As for the rules, the game is full of intricacies. Only a sporting gentleman would walk in to bat and face his opposition by either asking the Umpire in a loud clear voice "middle and leg please", or flicking a single digit or two fingers at him, when the opposition bowler is standing next him! Surely you don’t give the target away that obviously especially with the bowler hoping for a maiden over!

Positions on the field would make most maidens blush. There are fine legs, even long fine legs, mid-offs, silly mid-offs, silly mid-ons, and square legs! I haven’t space to mention googlies, chinamen and leg breaks, and as for what you do with the box ........ That will have to be another story, Howzatt !!

Should Kenya win through these matches to the finals, all the final matches will be played in South Africa.

Tickets for the Nairobi matches (Kenya vs NewZealand and Kenya vs Sri Lanka) are on sale at the Kenya Cricket Association offices at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club as well as in the Nairobi Sports Houses on Moi Avenue, Yaya Centre and Westlands.

Tickets can also be obtained on the gates on the days of the matches.

Tickets cost Ksh 500/- for covered seats and Ksh 200/- in the open stands. Gates open at 08.00 and play starts at 09.30. Everyone is welcome.

For more information contact the KCA

Tel. 02-3744762 or 02-3742932.

Kenya’s matches are:

Wednesday 12 February:

Kenya vs South Africa, Potchefstroom, RSA.

Saturday 15 February:

Kenya vs Canada, Cape Town, RSA.

Friday 21 Februay:

Kenya vs New Zealand, Nairobi Gymkhana Club, Kenya.

Monday 24 February:

Kenya vs Sri Lanka, Nairobi Gymkhana Club, Kenya.

Saturday 01 March:

Kenya vs Bangladesh, Johannesburg, RSA.

Tuesday 04 March.

Kenya vs West Indies, Kimberly, RSA.