In Canada's strong bowling performances at the Al-Barakah T20 Tournament in October, Henry Osinde impressed more than most. The tall seam bowler generated bounce that troubled both Pakistan and Zimbabwe, and Geoff Lawson, then Pakistan coach, singled him out for praise. Nevertheless, Osinde sees himself as the spearhead of Canada's pace attack, and wanted more. "I'd say I achieved 85% to 90% of what I wanted to do," he admits, as Canada prepare to fly to Guyana to play in the West Indies domestic one-day competition. "For the team I am the strike bowler, I always take wickets. But I wasn't really taking wickets, I was just containing."
Henry Osinde celebrates the capture of another wicket
Raised in Uganda, Henry Osinde took a very different route to the Canadian team to most of his team mates. In cricketing terms, he was a late starter. "I started playing at the age of about 15," he reveals. "There was an ICC development project that sent coaches to various schools in Africa. I had a look at what they were illustrating as a passer-by. They called me over to illustrate what it was like to have a bowler who was tall. I saw advantages in my height for cricket I'd never known."
Osinde emigrated to Canada, and has been an integral part of his adopted country's seam attack since before the 2007 World Cup. He's witnessing first hand the changes implemented by Cricket Canada's new administration, which is seeking to professionalise the sport. "This year we are doing twice the amount of practice we have done before," he reveals. "There's still a bit to work on, because if I compare Canada to countries like Scotland or Ireland, their level of fielding is a step ahead still."
Canada's impressive recent bowling displays have in part been due to their battery of slow bowlers, including Rizwan Cheema, Sunil Dhaniram and Balaji Rao. Osinde, however, is keen they develop in the pace bowling department ahead of next year's World Cup qualifier in South Africa. "The wickets in Canada suit slow bowlers because they keep low, but in South Afirca it's easier to hit the slow bowlers straight down the ground," he believes. "We need an extra seamer to come into the team."
November is a busy period for Canada's cricketers. The invitation to the West Indies competition (Nov 13 to 24) is a real coup, giving the team four matches against first-class opposition ahead of the Americas Division One championship in Florida later in the month (Nov 25 to Nov 30). Canada have a tough assignment, facing Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and the Leeward Islands. The squad features a few surprises. Cheema, the explosive opening batsmen who played two fearless innings against the West Indies in August, misses out as he doesn't have the relevant travel document. His absence puts added pressure on Canada's misfiring batting line-up, including the recalled Sandeep Jyoti and Qaiser Ali. Meanwhile Zahid Hussain, a leg spinner with first-class experience in Pakistan, replaces former India A bowler Balaji Rao.
While Canada are hoping for at least one victory, the USA, who have also been invited, are hoping to rebuild following recent administrative turmoil. Their chief weapon, all-rounder Lennox Cush, is out injured. They play Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Combined Campuses & Colleges.
Canada squad:
Sunil Dhaniram (c), Umar Bhatti (vc), Asif Mulla (wk), Sandeep Jyoti, Abdool Samad, Mohammed Iqbal, Zubin Sarkari, Qaiser Ali, Khurram Chohan, Karun Jethi, Zahid Hussain, Henry Osinde, Hanvir Baidwan, Eion Katchay.
USA squad:
Steve Massiah (c), Carl Wright (wk), Gowkaran Roopnarine (wk), Barrington Bartley, Stephen Taylor, Orlando Baker, Aditya Thyagarajan, Sudesh Dhaniram, Shahid Munir, Gregory Sewdial, Abhijit Joshi, Rashad Marshall, Kumar Nandalall, Imran Awan.
John Holmes
Copyright: Cover Point
