ST LUCIA: England try to keep their minds on the task of facing Kenya in world cup cricket

Record ID: 361539

  • Title: ST LUCIA: England try to keep their minds on the task of facing Kenya in world cup cricket
  • Date: 24th March 2007
  • Summary: SOUNDBITE (English) ENGLAND CAPTAIN MICHAEL VAUGHAN SAYING: "In preparation yesterday you could sense that there was something a little wrong because of what's going on but we really have to focus today and make sure that we produce a good performance tomorrow."
  • Embargoed: 8th April 2007 13:00
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  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADJYAUDJ0SFU8QJBMM1OWDY7E1
  • Story Text: England captain Michael Vaughan is determined to concentrate on the forthcoming World Cup game against Kenya, a match they must win to stay in the tournament. England battle Kenya for a place in the Super Eights on Saturday with both sides hoping their troops can remain focused after the tragic news that Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer had been murdered.
    England captain Michael Vaughan is well aware that Kenya, surprise semi-finalists in 2003, pose a credible threat to his side's chances of qualifying for the second round and any loss of concentration could be crucial in the final Group C match.
    Said Vaughan: "I guess it's been a totally different week with our incident and obviously this incident now but it is so important that we do produce a good performance tomorrow. As I said before, the World Cup must go on. We must play cricket. This game has to been seen in a great light. But the most important thing for us is that we produce a performace tomorrow and get us through to the Super 8's.
    "It's very difficult to talk about the game of cricket when incidents like this are taking place, but that's what we must do, we must play and make sure we get into the Super 8 series and try and get as far as we can in the World Cup."
    Kenya waltzed past Canada in their opening group match with captain Steve Tikolo in inspirational form with bat and ball.
    A tame defeat to New Zealand followed but Tikolo is confident his side can pack England off home and make the Super Eights.
    "We feel confident you know in each game we go to play. Being a test nation or an associate, we feel confident, that's why we're here. Otherwise we would have been at home. You know, having said that we also respect the opposition," said the 35-year-old mainstay of four World Cups.
    Kenya coach Roger Harper was cautiously optimistic, saying: "I think if we perform as well as we are capable of performing then we have a good chance of winning the game."
    Kenya's impressive spin attack of Jimmy Kamande and Hiren Varaiya may cause England problems although Vaughan's side will be greatly improved by the return of Andrew Flntoff.
    The all-rounder was stripped of the vice-captaincy and banned from Sunday's win over Canada after a late night drinking binge.
    The 29-year-old will be desperate to make his mark for the right reasons, with England badly missing his penetrative bowling in the laboured 51-run win over Canada.
    His destructive batting has been less consistent of late though and he made a first ball duck in the opening defeat by New Zealand last Friday.
    Ravi Bopara is likely to make way for Flintoff with the rest of the England lineup expected to be the same, meaning James Anderson and Liam Plunkett will continue as the front-line seamers despite mixed displays so far.
    If the game is a washout on Saturday and Sunday's reserve day then England will go through because of their better net run rate.
    Teams (probable):
    England - Michael Vaughan (captain), Ed Joyce, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Jamie Dalrymple, Paul Nixon, Liam Plunkett, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.
    Kenya - Maurice Ouma, David Obuya, Ravi Shah, Steve Tikolo (captain), Tanmay Mishra, Collins Obuya, Thomas Odoyo, Jimmy Kamande, Lameck Onyango, Peter Ongondo, Hiren Varaiya.
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