Player of the Month

Highlights of Maurice Odumbe's month: 148 not out (11 fours, 7 sixes) against Canada April 1 138 partnership with Steve Tikolo for the 4th wicket in the final v Bangladesh April 12 Leading run scorer for the ICC Trophy with the leading average Player of the series, 1997 ICC Trophy Related feature on the googler's: ICC Trophy 1997 CricInfo's profile of Maurice Odumbe Who missed out? The good, the bad and the ugly of April. The selection process for Players of the Month Previous Players of the Month Frequently Asked Question: Where's Aravinda?

The biggest event in world cricket in April 1997 was not a Test series or one-day tournament, but the gathering in Malaysia of the 22 nations on the next level of the world game, to compete for the ICC Trophy and three places in the next World Cup. For these teams and their players, their moments of glory come but once every four years - those fortunate enough to make it to the World Cup will be under the world spotlight every two years. This month the googler's award focusses on cricket's world forces of the future. Bangladesh won the tournament through an immaculate ensemble team effort, but our award goes to a player in the runner-up side, not simply for his efforts in the month of April but for his achievements for Kenya in preceding years. Star batsman for his team in the ICC tournaments of 1990 and 1994, captain in their World Cup campaign of 1996, man of the match in their monumental win over the West Indies. But on to the present day. On March 29 against Ireland he ran out of overs as he was left one short of his hundred, his 99* including 6 fours and two sixes. The next day in an extraordinary win over the USA his 83 in 77 balls included 5 fours and two more sixes, as an American team that promised so much was put in its place. And then the breakthrough came on April 1, as he blasted 148 not out against Canada, his 122 ball innings featuring eleven fours and seven sixes! The semi-final against Ireland gave him another 67 runs, and then came 43 more in the final as he shared a 138 partnership with Steve Tikolo, which looked like a match-winner until Bangladesh conquered the challenge of a rain-affected run slog. Voted man of the tournament, with 493 runs at 98.60 and a strike rate of 87, easily the leading run scorer of the 1997 ICC Trophy, more than 200 runs ahead of the next non-Kenyan. His ICC Trophy career total of 1173 runs is the highest in the history of the competition. One trusts that he will lead Kenya on to the next World Cup and towards greater international recognition. There are some great players in world cricket who shine week in and week out, but those whose turn for glory comes only once every couple of years deserve their recognition. The googler's Player of the Month for April 1997 is Kenya's Maurice Omondi Odumbe.

Your say on Maurice Odumbe!

ASSALam o' alaikum ! Good Morning ! Howdy ! How do you do ! I'm Hasan Naqvi from Pakistan . Isaw him on star network during the semi-finals and the final . Was in tremendous form , gave good supp- ort to Steve Tikolo and bowled well too . He is definetly the play- er of the month to me . I congratulate Maurice on winning this awarD , Iwant to tell him that he really deservs it . Keep it up . I hope that that you play better in "ENGLAND 1999"

Odumbe has certainly shown the world what fiery spirit Kenyans have. A prolific run scorer, and a hard hitter too. His quickfire innings have proved to be immensely valuable to both Kenya and to the popularity of the ICC tournament. Odumbe is technically sound, and plays wisely. He is a treat as a batsman, and as a fielder, too.

I disagree with those who say Steve Waugh or Aravinda De Silva may be better. For Odumbe has had shockingly little experience against the rest of the World. The World Cup is not enough. It is time countries such as Kenya and Bangladesh are given Test status. Only then can Odumbe gain valuable experience, and pound all the would-be proud winners into losers.

Congratulations, Maurice O. Odumbe, for being crowned the ICC cricketer of the month. That is just the start.

I found Maurice O. Odumbe as a great cricketer in Kenya team's last visit in Bangladesh.

He is really great.

Get a contract for an English county for the summer. They'll make you a citizen and you'll find yourself playing against Australia in an Ashes series... obvious talent deserves its rewards.

Top choice for player of the month, I wouldn't mind seeing another Bradman.

Kenyans are naturally gifted players.They have potentiality same as that Windies players have. So, do Odumbe . He has a tendency of destroying weak bowling attaacks mercilessly. So scoeres in the ICC trophy speaks for himself.He was @no doubt the best batsman of the tournament. So, if you want to recognize the ICC talents then he is the best choice. Don't forget about ICC in future.

But , I cannot agree with that he is the best batsman outside test cricket.I I have to mention about Aminul Islam and MInhazul Abedin of Bangladesh.Th They are as good as any test playing batsman when they are set and finding the gaps.

Congradulations to Maurice Odumbe. But, I feel Aravinda De Silva should have been named player of the month for his fantastic batting display in Sharjah and Sri Lanka. Ari's unbeaten twin hundreds in the 2nd test against Pakistan is an unprecedented feat in test cricket history.

Kenya and Bangladesh were two finalists of this year's ICC tournament. Thus these r two best teams among non-test caps. Practically from my point of view difference between these 2 teams and other non-test caps is quite considerable. But considering the strength of these 2 teaams, I think Maurice and Tikolo are the difference. Definitely Bangladesh came out successful due to all-round performance of her players. But to go ahead to the test arena, she definitely needs player like Maurice.

It is a perfect decision indeed to select Maurice (but certainly De Silva was the other contender among test playing countries). He did really examplary deeds so far. I congrats him for this achievement and for helping non-test cap couuntries coming forward. Wish better days for Maurice, for Kenya and all non-test cap countries.

Dear Odumbe,
You can make it to the very top in international cricket.You guys have the talent.Hope to see you at the top in the 1999 world cup.All the best.

He seems to be very talented player along with Steve Tikolo.Definetly he fits into almost all test playing sides may be except for Australia and South Africa. Really want to see him flourish in the forthcoming world cup.Anyway kudos to the champion player from kenya for all the success he achieved in the ICC trorhy. All the best dear Odumbe for the future.

Its been great on your part to select Maurice as your Player of the Month. With a remarkable display in the ICC trophy, he truly deserves it. This award will not only encourage him , but play an important role in popularizing cricket in more parts of Africa and gradually throughout the world. I wish him and his team-mates all the best for the future and hope to see them on the winning side more often.

My name is Sarfaraz from Kenya. Well you would think that I am supporting the Kenyan players but they are really playing well from before. Maurice Odumbe is a very capable Captain for the Kenyan team and he has the ability to save the Kenyan team from great danger. He was very capable of recieving the Man of the Series award in the ICC Trophy. And I asure you that Kenya will very soon recieve the test status award due to their discipline, defense and attack in the game of cricket.

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Date-stamped : 04 May97 - 14:16