/ 24 June 1999

KENYA SEEK COACH

FORMER England fast bowler Peter Lever has been asked by the Kenyan cricket authorities to mastermind their build-up to the 2003 cricket World Cup. The 58-year-old, who played 22 tests between 1972 and 1974, has already been involved in the development of Kenyan cricket and he acted as their bowling coach in the World Cup, where they failed to repeat their heroics of four years ago, when they beat the West Indies, and lost every match. “There is a lot of raw talent out there but they need to put in place a pyramid which will help it to come through,” he said. Lever’s decision rests on whether he can afford to spend six months every year in Kenya and away from his successful business in Lancashire. The Kenyans lost heavily in each of their five matches in the group stage losing to South Africa by seven wickets, to England by nine wickets, to Zimbabwe by five wickets, to India by 94 runs and by 45 runs to the deposed defending champions Sri Lanka.