Kirsten favourite to be Kenya's coach

Steve Tikolo has told the Nation newspaper that he is delighted Andy Kirsten is among the frontrunners for the vacant role of Kenya's coach.

As Cricinfo exclusively revealed last month, South African Kirsten heads a four-man shortlist which is understood to contain three candidates from England. Samir Inamdar, Cricket kenya's chairman, revealed that one other - Australia's Ian Harvey - had withdrawn because of his commitments with the Indian Cricket League.

"We know Kirsten's working ethic and I believe that if he comes here as main coach, the team will improve in all the three departments of the game: batting, bowling and fielding," Tikolo told the paper.

Kirsten worked with the Kenyan side as a fielding coach during their successful 2003 World Cup campaign and was shortlisted for the post in 2006 but had to withdrawn because of other commitments.