Tikolo: Zimbabwe should brace themselves

Kenya fly out of Nairobi today to start their five-ODI tour of Zimbabwe, and Steve Tikolo, their captain, was in bullish mood.

Kenya were in Zimbabwe in October when they won all three matches against an A side. But Zimbabwe fielded most of their Test team, and since then a number of them, including Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu, have quit.

"If we are going to play the same team we met last year, then Zimbabwe should brace themselves for a tough competition," Tikolo told the Daily Nation. "This time, the selection was done when some regular players have injuries which gives the youngsters an opportunity to prove themselves."

Tikolo also said that Roger Harper had given the side a new professionalism. "His work ethic is very professional which is good for the boys," he explained. Harper was reported to be surprised at the diet and fitness of the side, and he has been working hard over the last fortnight to bring them up to speed.

Harper has given each player a personal training schedule on as well as advice on food and alcohol. "The consumption of alcohol has a dehydrating effect, takes a while to get out of the system, slows you down and prevents you from functioning efficiently," he wrote to them. "We have to decide what we are and what we want to be: a Formula One racing car or some old tired truck."