Even though low on confidence after a losing spree in the run-up to the World Cup, New Zealand are unlikely to face any real threat from minnows Kenya when the two teams clash in their opening Group ‘A’ league match here tomorrow.

Under their newly-appointed coach John Wright, the Black Caps would be keen to regain confidence, having lost 14 of their last 17 One-day International matches, including 10 in the sub-continent that has exposed their inability to play on the turning wickets in this part of the world.

Since the Kiwis’ arrival here on February 10, they have been candid in admitting their weakness in coping with the sub-continent conditions, particularly against spin, which was evident in their collapse after a good start in a warm-up game against India that they lost by 117 runs.

On the eve of their opening match against Kenya, they seemed to be in a doubtful frame of mind, considering the remarks made by wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum yesterday that a confidence crisis is dogging the team after their meek surrender to Indian spin bowling.

And even though his teammate Martin Guptill expressed hope of the team bouncing back ahead of their first World Cup game, but there is little doubt that confidence in the Kiwi camp is at its lowest.

But all said and done, the New Zealanders, who have had mixed luck in practice games — winning against Ireland in the first game, only to be comprehensively beaten by the co-hosts India in the next — still start as favourites against the Kenyans tomorrow.

The tide is expected to turn in the Black Caps favour sooner than later with Wright, who was the coach of the Indian cricket team, having loads of experience in sub-continent conditions, working hard with team, besides bowling coach Alan Donald making significant contributions.

But the Kiwis have to be wary of the Kenyan side, which has caused a few upsets in the show-piece event in the past. The African nation shocked West Indies on their debut in the 1996 World Cup at Pune and then ran over Sri Lanka in 2003 on way to their lone semi-final appearance, thanks to the walk-over awarded after New Zealand refused to play in Nairobi, citing security concerns.

Since then, however, Kenyan cricket has been on a down slide, besieged by problems in domestic set-up. The present team, boosted by the return of veteran Steve Tikolo, won against Afghanistan and Ireland in Dubai, but lost to the Netherlands and West Indies in Colombo in both their warm-up ties.

Going by their strengths, Kenya’s realistic chance of registering a victory appears to be only against Canada in group stage but anything beyond that would be a bonus for them, considering defending champions Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe being the other teams in the group.

Ahead of tomorrow’s game, the Kiwis can take heart from the fact that their attacking batsmen — McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Guptill, whose 130 helped the team win the warm-up tie against Ireland in Nagpur — are all in form. But they would certainly have to work on their bowling if they want to go beyond the quarterfinals.

Their pace attack led by Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram and Tim Southee is a suspect against strokemakers on the sub-continent pitches, bringing to fore the void caused by the retirement of speedster Shane Bond.

The spin department also lacks the teeth, although it will be spearheaded by captain Daniel Vettori, who opted out of the warm-up match against India.

Newcomer Luke Woodcok and Nathan McCullum, whose availability for tomorrow’s match depends on his fitness, following his discharge from hospital after being under observation for two days with high temperature, also do not add much variety.

Kenya would be banking on the experience of 39-year-old all-rounder Tikolo and medium-pacer Thomas Odoyo, both of whom are playing in their fifth World Cup.

An exciting middle-order bat, Tikolo, who had scored 96 against Sri Lanka in 1996 and 93 against Australia, can also contribute to the team’s success as an effective slow bowler. The side has several youngsters, including opener Seren Waters, who sparkled with an unbeaten 126 against the Netherlands in the warm-up match, which they lost despite piling up 263.

As far as bowling department is concerned, the team has come well prepared for the sub-continent conditions, packing it with four spinners. Besides Tikolo, newly appointed captain James Kamande and Shem Ngoche would be their main strike bowlers.

Teams:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum (wk), Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson and Luke Woodcock.

Kenya: Jimmy Kamande (capt), Seren Waters, Alex Obanda, David Obuya, Collins Obuya, Steve Tikolo, Tamnay Mishra, Rakep Patel, Maurice Ouma, Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Peter Ongondo, Shem Ngoche, James Ngoche. Umpires: Rod Tucker and Marais Erasmus; Aleem Dar (third), Roshan Mahanama (Match Referee).

The Indian Cricket Board’s selection committee will pick the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup on September 16 in Chennai. 

The Irani Cup is scheduled in November-December. The panel will also select the three teams for the Challenger Series, scheduled from October 8 to October 11, in the same meeting.

“The All India Senior Selection Committee Meeting will be held at 11:00 am on September 16, at the TNCA, Chennai, to select the Rest of India Team for the Irani Cup and the three teams for the Challenger Series 2009-10,” BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

He’s got 85 international centuries to his name, but Sachin Tendulkar rates his 103 not out against England in Chennai last December as his most significant.

“I think the one against England in Chennai last year,” he said, about his most-satisfying century that came barely a month after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

“After what happened in Mumbai (the terrorist attacks), the mood of the entire nation was low. Something was needed to put smiles on people’s faces. I am by no means suggesting that the people who lost near and dear ones could forget their terrible loss, but if we as a team were able to make them smile for just a couple of seconds, that was an achievement,” the Independent quoted Tendulkar, as saying.

Spotted by former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar when he was just 14 to play first class cricket, the master-blaster said that the tons he scored during those schooldays would always find a special place in his heart.

“I would say that there were a couple in my schooldays that changed my life. In the semifinal of an under-17s tournament, I scored 326 not out, which is when everyone in Mumbai took notice of me. I then scored 346 not out in the final, with Dilip Vengsarkar and Sunil Gavaskar watching.”

“I was only 14 at the time, but Vengsarkar wanted me to join the Mumbai first-class team, which contained nine Test players. He had to be sure I was ready. So he invited me to play in the India nets. The Indian team had a camp in Mumbai, and he made Kapil Dev and all these guys bowl at me in the nets. After that session he gave a green signal to the selectors,” he said.

And validating Vengsarkar’s faith in him, the young Sachin scored the highest number of runs in his very first domestic season.

From then to now, Tendulkar said that Indian cricketers are in a unique position to affect the mood of a billion-strong country, and they have to respect this power.

“You know, cricket in India brings the entire nation together, from the poorest child to a billionaire. We are in a position to make everyone happy, which is very special for me and the whole cricketing fraternity,” he said.