Our own Innocent Ndawula had an evening stroll with the head coach of the senior men’s national cricket team days after the team returned from fruitful build-up tours of Qatar and India. The legendary Kenyan tactician was in a generous mood as he let in on the individual ratings of team as well as some advice for the future engagements.

1) Roger Mukasa - Captain.

Captained the team very well. Made good bowling changes and field settings. He has a good cricketing brain and also respect of his team mates. Batted well in a number of matches but didn't complete the job. As one of the leading batsmen in the team, he needs to bat longer and carry the team through to ensure the team achieves its set goals in the batting department.
Marks: 7 out of 10

2) Brian Masaba – Vice Captain

He captained the team well when Mukasa was rested. Did a good job with the bowling changes, field settings and also has a good cricketing brain. Bowled very well on surfaces that were conducive to spin. Batted well a number of times but didn't complete the job. As a middle order batsman, he needs to ensure he bats through the number of overs left when he walks out. This way he can carry the team to the finish line.
Marks: 7 out of 10

3) Hamu Kayondo – Right-hand top order batsman

Batted well in a number of matches. Got out to soft dismissals when he was set and the team needed him to bat through. As a top order batsman and one of the leading batsmen in the team, he needs to have the mind set of batting long for the team. 30s and 40s are not good enough for a top order batsman.
Marks: 6 out 10

4) Zephaniah Arinaitwe – Right-hand top order batsman

He didn't have a good tour with the bat. He got starts on a number of occasions but let it slip due to poor shot selection. As a top order batsman in the team, he needs to bat longer to ensure the team achieves its set goals in the batting department. Needs to work on his mind set and shot selection. Fielded well and stood out as one of the better fielders in the team.
Marks: 4 out of 10

5) Simon Ssesazi – Left-hand top order batsman

Batted well on tour and was the only batsman who scored consistently on tour. Unfortunately, he didn't convert the scores into bigger ones. Perhaps this could be based on lack of experience and maturity at this level. As a top order batsman, he needs to work on his mindset to bat longer for the team to ensure the team achieves its set goals in the batting department. He also needs to work on his speed and agility to sharpen his running in between the wickets while batting and his movements on the field while fielding.
Marks: 7 out of 10

6) Lloyd Paternott – Right-hand top order batsman

Played one Twenty20 match but unfortunately got injured towards the end of the match. It was a serious knee injury that made him sit out the rest of the Qatar Tour. Briefly seeing him in this match, he looked a compact batsman more suited to the 50-over format. He has been unfortunate, picking up injuries each time he has come to represent the country. Needs to work on his fitness and strengthen his body to minimize injuries.
NB: Will be unfair to rate him based on the match he got injured playing.

7) Deus Muhumuza – All Rounder

Probably the leading light of the tour. Did well in all the three departments each time he played. Batted well in the middle order carrying the team through most of the times, picked wickets and kept the run rate down while bowling. He also put his body on the line while fielding saving plenty of runs. Easily the stand out player of the tour.
Marks: 9 out of 10

8) Riazat Ali Shah – All Rounder
Got good starts while batting but didn't make them count. As a middle order batsman, Rizu needs to ensure he bats through the number of overs left when he comes in to bat. This way he can carry the team through to the finish line. Bowled well especially in the slog/death overs. Needs to work more on his initial bowling spell to minimise the bad deliveries. One of the better fielders in the team.
Marks: 6 out 10


9) Fred Achelam – Wicketkeeper/Batsman
Kept wickets throughout the tour save for only two matches. He did a very good job with the gloves. I was impressed with his fitness levels and determination (kept wickets in 11 out of 13 matches in 17 days). Needs to work on a few technical aspects of his wicket-keeping to become a polished glove-man. Batted in the lower order and did a fairly decent job when he got the opportunity to bat. A good asset.
Marks: 7 out of 10

10) Frank Nsubuga – All Rounder
Bowled pretty well in the matches that he played. Didn't get much opportunity with the bat. At his age, still one of the best fielders in the team though dropped a number of easy catches on this tour. A senior player who motivates his fellow players on and off the field. Needs to keep working on his fitness to keep up with the pace of modern day cricket.
Marks: 7 out of 10

11) Irfan Afridi – Bowling All-Rounder
Bowled fairly well in the matches he played. Got some decent starts when he batted but was unable to convert or carry the team through to the finish line. Needs to be more patient while bowling, create pressure by bowling more dot balls rather than trying to pick wickets. As a middle/late order batsman, he needs to bat through the remaining overs once he gets in and ensure the team crosses the line. Needs to work on his fitness, speed and agility to become a better fielder. This will also help in improving his running in-between the wickets.
Marks: 6 out of 10

12) Kenneth Waiswa - All-Rounder
Had a mixed tour. As an all-rounder in the team, there are periods when he did well with both bat and ball and there were periods his performance was flat in both departments. Needs to concentrate more on doing the basics of the game right to create the consistency that he is currently lacking. He has the potential of being a destructive player with both bat and ball.
Marks: 5 out of 10

13) Charles Waiswa – Left-arm medium-fast opening bowler
Bowled well in the matches he played. As a strike bowler, he led from the front. His initial spells were good. Needs to work on his slog/death bowling so as to be effective when required to bowl during this period of the match. Didn't get much opportunity with the bat. Wasn't at his best in the fielding department but still one of the better fielders in the team and a fighter on the ground.
Marks: 7 out of 10

14) Henry Ssenyondo – Left-arm orthodox spinner
Bowled well throughout the matches he played. One of the consistent performers in the bowling department. Didn't get much opportunity with the bat. Needs to work more on his speed and agility to improve on his fielding.
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15) Bilal Hassun – Right-arm fast opening bowler
As a strike bowler, he had a mixed tour. There are times he bowled well and there are times he was flat. He bowled well in the slog/death overs. There are times he got carried away by how quick he can bowl rather than doing the basics and following the team plans. Didn't get much opportunity with the bat. Needs to work on his speed and agility to improve on his fielding.
Marks: 6 out of 10

16) Trevor Bukenya – Right-arm medium-fast opening bowler
As an opening/strike bowler, he didn't have a good debut tour. He struggled with the lines and lengths. This could be attributed to nerves, lack of experience and maturity at this level. On a positive note, though he is still young, he is willing to learn and improve his game. Didn't get much opportunity with the bat. Needs to work more on his fielding and listening to instructions from the captain and senior players.
Marks: 5 out of 10

17) Emmanuel Isaneez – Bowling All-Rounder
Had a fairly good tour. Bowled consistently well in the matches he played. Needs to work on his slog/death overs bowling. Didn't get much opportunity with the bat. Needs to work on his fitness, speed and agility to help improve on his fielding.
Marks: 8 out of 10

18) Steven Wabwose – Left-hand top order batsman/wicketkeeper
As a top order batsman, didn't have a good debut tour. This could be attributed to nerves, lack of experience and maturity at this level. Needs to spend more time on the wicket, have a positive mindset and play according to the team's plans as a top order batsman. Did the wicket-keeping duties in one match and showed capabilities that the technical team can work with in future. Needs to work on his speed and agility to help improve on his movements on the field.
Marks: 5 out of 10

19) Ronak Patel – Right-hand top order batsman/wicketkeeper
He didn't do well with the bat in the few matches he played but looked a compact batsman. Did the wicket-keeping duties in one of the matches and looked accomplished. Has a good cricketing brain and shared ideas with the captain on field settings and bowling changes. Needs to work a lot on his fitness.
Marks: 6 out of 10

20) Dinesh Nakrani – All Rounder
Showed good abilities with the bat in the middle order and was spot on with his bowling. He was good with his initial bowling spell and then capped it off with intelligent bowling during the slog/death overs. Has a good cricketing brain and shared ideas with the captain on the field. Needs to work on his fitness and fielding.
Marks: 7 out of 10