Bridging the experience gap

Ravindu Shah: 'We just have to make the most of every opportunity that we get to play' © Getty Images

Until they lost to Scotland on Sunday, Kenya have owned this tournament. Their thrilling run-chase to beat Ireland was as good as it gets in one-day cricket, with a celebration to match. But does their success at Associate level mask a more deep-rooted problem with the game's promotion and youth development in the country?

"The problem is the length between schools cricket and club cricket," Ravindu Shah, the Kenya batsman, told Cricinfo at the Aga Khan Sports Club this week. "You need to assign three or four schools to each club, and use that as the feeder system. That's where the breakdown is. The problem isn't with a lack of schools cricket.

"I played cricket in school. And I was in school in 1989. I can't remember a time when cricket in schools has decreased. [In fact] it's incredible how much schools cricket there is. A lot of time and effort has gone into putting coaches in, but what next for them?"

Shah speaks in the same manner with which he bats: calmly, patiently waiting for the bad balls (or stray questions) before dispatching them with flamboyance. He has made it to the top but is only too aware of the next generation's treacherous path to national success.

"The responsibility isn't just with Cricket Kenya though," he said. "It's the provinces, the clubs - it's a combination of people and institutions that need to take responsibility. If you don't play club cricket, you don't have a chance of playing youth cricket; for the provincial sides; for the national side. Only club cricketers have that opportunity."

Shah got his opportunity and took it. A knee injury forced him out of cricket for nearly two years, inadvertently re-igniting his passion for the game. But what of Kenya's fortunes as the leading Associate? Do tournaments such as the World Cricket League have limited value for Kenya who are, effectively, playing five weaker sides?

"Well," he sighs, "it's the same old song we've been singing: asking for more games. It's great that the Associates get to play among themselves, but for the next Associate to join the Test teams, we need to play against better sides. The [new] Associates coming in want to beat Kenya, but we too want to play more against the Test teams. That's the only way we're going to improve.

"But we don't have much of a choice. We just have to make the most of every opportunity that we get to play."

That sentiment is shared by nearly every team in this tournament: they are not playing each other nearly as much as they should, or would like to. As Kenya finished their training session at the Aga Khan ground, the Ireland players arrived, one of whom walked past and greeted Shah. Once out of earshot, he later admitted he wasn't even sure who he was. It spoke volumes.

Shah remains positive, even buoyant about their World Cup prospects. The delicious prospect of a carefree Kenya facing off against a demoralised England was flat-batted cautiously, although a wry grin suggested he and his team-mates cannot wait for the encounter.

"If you look at the team today," he said, "you have got four guys who are less than 22. All four spent a month at the winter camp and they're playing in the first team. There is youth coming through as well as experience - there's a very good mix. And in the 30 that were picked, there was some youth there too. It bodes well. I'm positive."

Positive he might be, but problems exist and need to be addressed. The gap between schools and club cricket could be the bridge which, when built, announces Kenya as a world force. When (or how) this will happen, however, is another matter entirely.