Sharjah: Thomas Odoyo, who won the man of the match award by steering Kenya to a 81-runs victory over UAE in the Intercontinental Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, feels that he is improving with age.
Odoyo displayed his allround skills through an elegant 137 studded with nine boundaries and four sixes. He also provided a vital breakthrough with his accurate medium pace.
"I have been representing Kenya for the last 13 years and I am able to perform at my best even now. I am now looking forward to play in the 2011 World Cup," remarked Odoyo to Gulf News, who won the nick name Black Botham for his allround performance in the 1996 World Cup as a 17-year-old debutant.
"Recently I scored back to back centuries against Canada in the Intercontinental Cup. I consider these as my best knocks," said the 29-year-old Odoyo, who is the only Kenyan player to have scored over 1,000 runs and taken 100 wickets.
Odoyo played his 100th One-dayer on October 28, 2007, but is yet to play Test cricket as his country is yet to gain Test status.
Odoyo's rise to fame is an interesting tale. He was tennis ball boy at a gymkhana next to a cricket ground. He and his friends used to field the ball near the boundary. One day they allowed him to play cricket and he shocked them with his natural skills.
"I am so happy that I could contribute with the bat and ball for so many years.
"Being an allrounder, my contribution has been very crucial for the team. Now the team also gains a lot from my experience," said Odoyo, who won the inaugural International Cricket Council Associate Player of the Year award, last year.
Odoyo is sad that he hasn't got enough opportunities to display his skill buy is hopeful of a better tomorrow for Kenya.
"If we had got enough opportunities we could have achieved more. We are working our way up. We have a lot of youngsters coming through and I am happy to be part of Kenyan cricket in bringing up the youngsters," said Odoyo, who showed the way to bat under pressure after Kenya had slipped to 126 for 5.
Odoyo's knock helped Kenya pile up 326 runs in the first innings.
Like his captain Steve Tikolo, Odoyo too considers his greatest moment as being part of the 2003 World Cup semifinal squad.
"I will be happy if I can be part of a team that will be playing the big teams more often.
"I will also be delighted if I can get to play a bigger role to get the game up in Kenya," said Odoyo, who believes that Kenyans rely on natural ability and that their players have hogged the limelight through their raw talent.
Odoyo is delighted that Kenya is now getting the opportunity to play the longer version of the game.
"I'm really happy that we are playing the longer form of the game.
"Back home we haven't even started playing this form of the game. We are only in the process of starting the longer version soon," revealed Odoyo.
"The International Cricket Council deserve all praise for giving us such an opportunity to play four-day games.
"Till the introduction of the four-day Intercontinental Cup, only the Test playing countries got to play the longer version. This form of the game will strengthen the standard of our game too," said Odoyo, who is keen to play the Test playing nations too in the longer version of the game.
"We play against the top Test playing nations after a long gap. We need to be playing against the best teams often.
"Now we play them without facing such good quality opponents and get beaten quickly," said Odoyo, who has introduced his younger brother and nephew into the game.
"My nephew is a Kenya prospect," he said proudly before walking away to join the team for a round of football to cool down after a long day on the field.
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