Thomas Odoyo

Since his debut at the age of 17 at the 1996 World Cup, Thomas Odoyo has been a key performer for his side and one of Kenya's most valuable assets. A whole-hearted allrounder, his powerful middle-order hitting has brought him more than 2000 runs at international level, while he was also the first Kenyan to take 100 wickets in ODIs with his bustling medium-fast seamers, though it took him seven games to take his first international wicket, during a spell of 3 for 25 in Nairobi against Pakistan. He has been a regular performer since then, and was the first player from a non-Test playing team to achieve the double of 1500 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs. For several years, he formed a reliable new-ball partnership with Martin Suji and in 1997-98 he shared in a then-world record ODI stand for the seventh-wicket of 119 with the other Suji, brother Tony, at home against Zimbabwe.

Injury forced him out of Kenya's trip to the West Indies for the 2003-04 Carib Beer Cup first-class competition, but he was fit again for selection for the 2004 Champions Trophy. He returned from Kenya's 18-month international exile on song, and was named Player of the Series in Zimbabwe in 2005-06. He underlined his potential as an allrounder with some excellent performances in the World Cricket League in 2007, thrashing a 39-ball 61 to snatch a remarkable one-wicket victory against Ireland. He couldn't repeat his rollicking strokeplay at the World Cup in the Caribbean, but his bowling was as disciplined as ever, and he was selected for the Afro-Asia Cup, during which he shared in a 103-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Shaun Pollock in the first match at Bangalore. His consistent performances led to him winning inaugural ICC Associate ODI Player of the Year in 2007.

In the same year, he hit his maiden first-class and ODI hundreds against the touring Canadians, and continued to provide Kenya with valuable contributions with both bat and ball through 2008 in the Intercontinental Cup and, later, the World Cup qualifiers. In September 2009, he was confirmed as the second Kenyan, after Steve Tikolo, to join Zimbabwean franchise Southern Rocks, whose young side benefited from his vast experience.
Liam Brickhill