Eldine Baptiste steps down as Kenya's coach

Eldine Baptiste has stepped down as Kenya's coach two months before his current contract expires. The news was not unexpected following Kenya's wretched performance at the World Cup where a string of poor displays on the field were accompanied by reports of rows off it.

Baptiste's departure comes in the wake of the performance review being conducted by Cricket Kenya after the country lost all of their six World Cup league games and finished bottom of their group. Tom Sears, CK's chief executive, said that as part of the review, the coach's position had also come under scrutiny.

"Both Cricket Kenya and Eldine Baptiste have decided that there is a need for change. I would like to commend Eldine for his professionalism and honesty during the review process," Sears said. "We will now conduct an extensive recruitment process to find a new national coach and will be inviting applications from both within Kenya and overseas. It is vital we find the right person to take us forward and this is a crucial appointment."

Sears explained there would be far-reaching changes at every level of the game in Kenya as the review process would assess each operational area. "We expect to make public the full findings of the review in mid-May once we have consulted with the ICC. We have to use this opportunity to change for the better and fulfil the undoubted potential of cricket in Kenya."

Baptiste took over as Kenya coach in September 2009 after coaching stints in South Africa and the West Indies. But he was unable to turn round a team in long-term decline and despite bullish assurances, little seems to have changed in the last 19 months.