The Last Of Obuyas Cricket Trilogy Calls Time On His Decorated Career

Whenever Kenya's Collins Obuya plays cricket, his performances remind fans why he is one of the country's finest exponents of the game.

And it is easy to see why.

An all-rounder, the 42-year-old bats right-handed and bowls leg spin. He shot to fame at the 2003 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Collins was one of Kenya's best performers in the tournament, helping the country reach the historic semi-finals for the first time.

His retirement from the national team last month closed a rosy chapter in Kenyan cricket as he was the last member of the legendary team, still playing competitive cricket.

Now, as then, he displays flashes of brilliance that made him one of the most revered all-rounders in the world.

After 23 years in the game, the 42-year-old called time on a decorated career that has seen him play 568 times for Kenya.

He has played club cricket in the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and Uganda.

Yet when his elder brothers Kennedy and David introduced him to the sport in the 90s, he did not envisage himself playing for that long.

I consider it a miracle that I have played for this long, the all-rounder tells Nation Sport.

Im very grateful for that, and I thank God for keeping me fit all this long.

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The father of two now joins a long list of players who frequented the ICC Cricket World Cup when Kenya was a force to reckon with in the game but watched helplessly in recent years as the standards of the game deteriorated.

In an enthralling bronze medal match between Kenya and Uganda at the 13th African Games in Accra on March 23, Collins had a deep conviction that it was time he bowed out of international duty while still at the top.

Yet, it wasn't meant to end this way.

Heading to Ghana, I had no plans to retire from the game but at some point (in the match between Kenya and Uganda), I felt that my body was struggling, says the right-hand batsman and leg-spinner, who was still Kenyas best player by a mile.

I felt that it was time for me to retire.

He smashed three half-centuries in the African Games 58 runs off 47 balls against South Africa - and 68 runs off 30 balls against Ghana in the group stage. In the semi-finals against Zimbabwe, he posted 52 runs off 29 balls. Taking to the crease for his last innings as a batsman for Kenya, the veteran cricketer had hoped to give his fans a treat of his blazing boundaries and towering sixes one more time.

It didnt happen.

Weighed down by age and tiring feet, the 42-year-old bowled out before getting any run. In cricket terms, Collins was dismissed for a duck, and Uganda beat Kenya by 106 runs.

But with several achievements to his name, that was not how he had planned to retire from the sport he loved.

Yet even a disastrous last innings of his international career wasnt stopping him from popping the champagne on his national team retirement.

The guard of honour mounted by Kenya and Uganda players at the end of the match and a long applause from the spectators signalled that his remarkable career with the national team is one for the history books.

Im very proud of my performance, the former Kenya captain said.

I played for Kenya in the Under-19 ICC World Cup (1998 and 2000), the T20 World Cup (2007) and two editions of the One-Day International World Cup (2003 and 2011). Im very grateful for that and I wish to thank everyone who supported me. I thank God for enabling me to play that long.

The dangerous opening batsman still wants to play for his familys team, Obuya Cricket Academy, for two more years, after which he will transition to coaching. The secret to his longevity in the game?

The love and passion I have for cricket is what has kept me going for this long, he says. But those who know me well will tell you that Im one person who trains very hard. Every morning, I hit the gym for about an hour, after which I bat, bowl, and field with the help of my coach. After all that, I joined my teammates in training. At home, I ensure that I eat well and have enough rest and sleep, adds the player-cum-coach, stressing that he is a teetotaller.

A strong sense of personal discipline, the all-rounder says, has had a huge impact on his longevity in cricket.

I have played under many coaches, who were also my teammates in the national team. I dont t