Mishra 'psyched' for Australian test

Kenya's fifth match of the tournament is coming up and the side has been a shambles so far, with heavy defeats in all the four games they have played. The latest loss was perhaps the most disheartening as it came against fellow Associate Canada, one of the two encounters Kenya realistically hoped to win in the World Cup. To make matters worse, their next match is against triple world champions Australia, a prospect Kenya batsman Tanmay Mishra tried to remain upbeat about.

"It's a challenge; you have to be psyched for games like these," Mishra said. "Australia are a world champion team; 28 to 29 games unbeaten, possibly the best attack in the tournament; we just have to remain positive."

That Australian attack will prove a difficult proposition for the misfiring Kenya batting. Though their scores have gradually improved through the tournament, the team has been bowled out in all their matches, and is yet to put up a strong total. "We haven't really done well; the top order hasn't really connected," Mishra said. "We've spoken about it; we have Australia up next, and we've still got to look positive, still do the basics right, and bat positively, not just bat the 50 overs."

The Canada match was the first time Kenya played out all their overs in this World Cup, but it was mostly a rebuilding effort after the top order failed once more, and eventually they posted a total which was too small. Mishra said the loss to Canada hurt Kenya, particularly because they had come into the tournament in good form. "The Canada defeat was a difficult one to swallow because we had been playing really well against the Associates. Even in Dubai (in the warm-up matches before the World Cup) we had some really good results. It was just the top-order collapse that delfated us; we were 41 for 4, and after that everyone's heads were down, but these things happen in cricket and you have still got to be positive. We spoke about it and we have left it behind us."

Though Kenya have regressed from the performance level they displayed both in their inaugural World Cup in 1996 and in their high point in 2003 when they made the semi-finals, Mishra expected improvements in the next few years. "We are going through a transition period; we've got a lot of youngsters including myself coming through. Structures are being put in place. To be honest it is a bit late but it is getting in place, we are re-developing, cricket is spreading; in 3 or 4 years this team will rise up again."