Alvin Kallicharran on preparations for World Cup 1999
Tony Munro - 19 February 1999

Alvin Kallicharran wouldn't exactly say it, but speaking to him one feels the Kenyan national team coach is experiencing deju vu - a flashback to the times when the West Indies were reknowned for natural talent but perhaps criticised in the way they used it.

Speaking on the eve of Kenya's vital World Cup preparation series against the touring MCC, two phrases kept emanating from a man who is genuinely excited at what his team could achieve - "natural talent" and "enthusiasm".

"These people are natural players - real athletes. The thing that really stands out is they are all all-rounders. A guy like Kennedy Otieno keeps wickets and opens, people like Maurice Odumbe and Steve Tikolo, they can bat and bowl, it goes through the whole side. And they are natural fielders."

There is though a third phrase Kallicharran constantly used - cricket commonsense. "That is what I am working on - making the simple things work. They have real natural talent, just need on work on cricket commonsense and become more disciplined in areas. A matter of fine tuning."

"For instance with the World Cup, 90% of this team will be playing in England for the first time and I have to teach them about things like batting in England in May and June."

He cited the national team's transition to professionalism as a huge plus in streamlining his role. "We have a five year sponsorship with Kenya Breweries and the enthusiasm of the players is fabulous. Now there is an eagerness in the youngsters and they are workmanlike in how they go about their training. It makes my job easy."

This new sense of professionalism, according to Kallicharran, has transcended in the team's enthusiasm. "They are easy people to work with. They come out into the Kenyan heat at 10am and they keep working to 3pm."

The interview revealed his real frustration with the present lack of exposure for his team in an international fixture list which does not help teams in the vicious circle of 'Don't win enough matches to get invitations to tournaments due to lack of experience and don't have the experience due to lack of top match practice.'

"I see a guy in our team like Thomas Odoyo who I rate highly who has played only nine one day internationals since the '96 World Cup and then I see guys like Agarkar from India and Shaun Pollock and I think what he could become with their experience.

"I really feel for these players with the ability that they possess," said Kallicharran, lamenting his team's lack of exposure. Kallicharran said there are "three or four players" who may break into the final World Cup squad, mentioning left arm spinner Mohammad Sheikh and all-rounder Jimmy Kumande.

The former left-hander, famous for hooking that genteel duo of Lillee and Thomson during the 1975 version of the World Cup, is enjoying life in Kenya. "No social life though," he laughed, although gauging his enthusiasm for his task at hand he doesn't seem too worried.

Kallicharran's Kenyans will play one three-day match and four one-day matches against an MCC side which includes former England players, Matthew Maynard, Stephen Rhodes and Richard Illingworth. The touring MCC will play eight matches in all.

Their itinerary is: Feb. 20: vs Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association XI (Ruaraka Sports Club); Feb. 21: vs. Kenya CA XI (Simba Union); Feb. 23-25: Kenya CA XI (Nairobi Gymkhana Club); Feb. 27: Kenya CA XI (Nairobi Club); Feb. 28: Kenya CA XI (Nairobi Gymkhana Club); March 2: Kenya Under 19s (Aga Khan Sports Club); March 6: Coast CA XI (Coast Gymkhana Club, Mombasa); March 7: Kenya CA XI (Mombasa Sports Club).

The squads are: MCC - Matthew Maynard (Captain) (Former England and Glamorgan), Stephen Rhodes (w/k) (Former England and Worcestershire), Keith Evans (Nottinghamshire), Ed Gittins (Warwickshire), John Hardy (Somerset), Richard Illingworth (Former England and Worcestershire), Raju Maru (Somerset), Robin Martin-Jenkins (Sussex), Adrian Piersson (Somerset), Keith Piper (w/k) (Warwickshire), Matthew Wood (Yorkshire), Richard Greatorex, Chimnay Gupte; Manager - Neil Trestrail. Kenya - Asif Karim (Captain), Maurice Odumbe (Vice-Captain), Josaphat Ababu, Joseph Angara, Dipak Chaudasama, Sandip Gupta, Jimmy Kamande, Hitesh Modi, Peter Ochieng, Thomas Odoyo, Lameck Onyango, David Otieno, Francis Otieno, Kenedy Otieno, Brijal Patel, Ravindu Shah, Mohammed Sheikh, Martin Suji, Tony Suji, Steve Tikolo, Alpesh Vader.

The Kenyan coach's desire for more international exposure will be fulfilled when the team plays in a triangular tournament against host Bangladesh and Zimbabwe less than a fortnight after the MCC visit.

The tournament schedule is: March 19 - Kenya vs. Zimbabwe; Mar. 20 - Bangladesh vs. Kenya; Mar. 21 - Bangladesh vs. Zimbabwe; Mar. 23 - Kenya vs. Zimbabwe; Mar. 24 - Bangladesh vs. Kenya; Mar. 25.