Cricket Kenya picks 1st chairwoman

NAIROBI, Dec 2, (AFP): Cricket Kenya on Sunday unanimously elected Zehra Janmohammed as its new chairwoman, the first ever woman to head a national cricket board.

Janmohammed, a Nairobibased lawyer, who previously served as a legal adviser to the old Kenya Cricket Association (KCA), was elected unopposed to replace the incumbent Samir Inamdar, who has served for the last seven years.

“I take this opportunity to thank the cricket fraternity for placing their trust for leadership under me,” Janmohammed said.

“I would like to make a covenant of uniting everyone for the benefit of the sport and my only agenda will be to grow the sport and achieve measurable results.”

She takes over at a time when the national cricket board is implementing a comprehensive review process initiated by the outgoing office following the country’s worstever performance at the 2011 World Cup in the sub-continent.

“My short term plans are to ensure both the national under-19 and the senior men’s team qualify for the next World Cup,” she added.

“Kenya play Canada in the UAE in March, in a match we need to win to stay in contention for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.”

Also: PERTH, Australia:

Dennis Lillee current crop of quicks after injury and fatigue sidelined several pacemen ahead of the final South Africa Test.

Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation during the third and deciding Test in Perth, Lillee said the home team’s fast bowling injury woes could be traced to their inadequate preparation.

Australia were forced to change all three of their frontline bowlers for Perth, with Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus both ruled out due to fatigue after the gruelling second Test in Adelaide.

James Pattinson has been sidelined for the rest of the summer with a side injury suffered in Adelaide — his fourth breakdown this year — with fellow young quick Pat Cummins also out with a back

And all-rounder and Australian vice-captain Shane Watson missed the first two Tests of the series due to injury.

Lillee, who recovered from potentially career-ending back injuries to claim a then-record 355 Test wickets in 70 Tests for Australia, said current fast bowlers were not getting enough miles in their legs on the training track.

“If I had a squad of fast bowlers myself at the moment you can bet they would be doing a hell of a lot more running and pushing themselves into the deck a bit more,” Lillee said.

“You don’t stop running, running is your game, running is fast bowling. Obviously you’ve got to be able to bowl, but running is what gets you there.