Cricketers’ chance to shake off fatigue, adapt to conditions

KUALA LUMPUR.

Every member of the Uganda Cricket Team will get a run out in the middle at the Selangor Turf Club today in a build-up match against Malaysia XI.
Coach Steve Tikolo told Daily Monitor that the purpose of Uganda’s unusual arrival at the tournament for this International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League Division IV showpiece was to ensure that the little matter of fatigue wouldn’t be in the picture.
And as the Cricket Cranes had a three-hour workout session at the Kinrara Oval - Home of Cricket in Malaysia - yesterday, it was visible that there were still a handful of tight muscles amongst the 14-man team.

Technical bench stronger
But coaches Steve Tikolo and Jackson Ogwang, who welcomed Foods & Nutrition expert Tim Kearsey - also a Performance Coach who has worked with Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) in Uganda - into the Ugandan camp were happy with the work ethic and willingness to push themselves under the hot and humid conditions.
“I am impressed with the work load that the guys put in,” said Kenyan legendary cricketer Tikolo. “I will have a chance to talk to the Malaysia coach before the match so that we find a way where every player can be involved in the match. At least 11 guys bat and then the other three that wouldn’t have batted can do something in the field with the bowl.

Feel of local conditions
“That is the purpose of practice and warm up games - to ensure that everyone gets to play.
“It is then that we can assess their body language further. It will also help them have a feel of the conditions; how the wicket plays, which direction the winds blow, how slow or fast the outfield is and the size of the boundaries. We will take advantage of the match for our good.
“And although it is nice to win such games, the result will matter little here. We want to play according to our plan and let the processes work. It is important we play to the script.”
Uganda’s opening clash of the tournament is on April 29 against the hosts Malaysia, who are seeded No.2, and this warm-up clash will give the former a chance to gauge themselves against a side that plays a similar brand of cricket and what to expect when the tournament bowls off proper on Sunday.
All the countries have already touched base in Kuala Lumpur apart from Bermuda who opted to camp in Dubai for a couple of days.

Team Uganda Itinerary
April 29: Uganda vs. Malaysia
*Kinrara Academy Oval
April 30: Uganda vs. Bermunda
*UKM Oval
May 2: Uganda vs. Singapore
*Royal Selangor Club
May 3: Uganda vs. Denmark
*Kinrara Academy Oval
May 5: Uganda vs. Jersey
*UKM Oval