MAURICE ODUMBE, one of Kenya's leading cricketers, is in Jamaica for a short holiday.
A middle-order batsman and offspin bowler, Odumbe was the captain of the Kenyan team that created one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Cup when they defeated the West Indies in 1996. He took three wickets for 15 runs off his 10 overs and won the man of the match award.
The 33-year-old Odumbe, who resigned as captain in 2002, was also a member of the Kenyan team that again shocked the world at the last World Cup in South Africa when they defeated Sri Lanka on their way to the semi-finals.
Odumbe, who scored 26 and returned figures of one for 39 off his 10 overs against Sri Lanka, scored the second most runs for Kenya, topped the team's batting averages and was fourth in the bowling average.
A member of the Vice Chancellor's team that played against New Zealand at Sabina Park in 1996, Odumbe is on his second visit to Jamaica, and according to him, he had to return.
"I have heard so much about Jamaica, but I did not see anything of the country on that occasion so I had to come back," said the Kenyan while watching a few hours of the second day's play of the Super League match between Melbourne and St. Catherine CC at Melbourne Oval on Sunday.
"I did not know that Jamaica had so many mountains and was so beautiful. And the weather is lovely. I really plan to go places this time."
