BY Steve Beauchampe BBC Sport

Following Kenya's surprise run to the World Cup semi-finals, Andy Moles' appointment as their national coach comes at a time of high anticipation and expectation.

Cricket's still a minority sport in Kenya, behind football and athletics Andy Moles

After five years coaching Free State in South Africa, the 42-year-old former Warwickshire batsman is charged with preparing Kenya for full Test status by June 2005.

"It's a huge challenge and I'm under no illusions," says Moles.

"Kenyan cricket has much natural talent but it's going to take blood, sweat and tears to develop it."

Moles' posting follows the appointment of his former Edgbaston mentor Bob Woolmer as International Cricket Council High Performance Director and his own inclusion among a panel of around 20 coaches established specifically to help emerging nations.

"Granting Kenya Test status is conditional on our attaining specific standards. My role goes beyond the national side to include youth cricket and helping establish a league structure.

"I'll work with the Under 19s and in schools, down to the Under 13s. We've currently got 20 professionals, but need to bring young players through, so we're planning an Academy.

Collins Obuya is currently gaining experience with Warwickshire

"There's ICC financial support available and they also have a pool of elite coaches - all ex-Test greats such as Allan Donald - who I can request help from."

With police investigations into the financial affairs of the Kenyan Cricket Association still fresh in the memory, Moles has had to assure himself that such matters have been satisfactorily resolved.

"The ICC provide financial support but it comes with conditions and levels of accountability attached, so I'm happy with the structure. However, money's tight and we do need sponsors.

"The World Cup created tremendous interest but inevitably that's waned a little. Cricket's still a minority sport in Kenya, behind football and athletics.

Looking back: Kenya at the World Cup

"A first-class structure is essential and the KCA have identified several provinces where they aim starting a three-day competition early in 2004."

Before that, Kenya host an emerging nations tournament in August, while the ICC meet mid-June to map a longer-term timetable for the country.

"There's talk of our participating in the West Indies championship, as Bangladesh have done previously."

With many of Kenya's stars still inexperienced in longer format cricket, placements such as leg spinner Collins Obuya's current Warwickshire tenure are a key part of the learning process and something Moles welcomes.

ANDY MOLES FACTFILE Born: 12.2.1961 Solihull First-class debut: 1986 First-class record: 15,305 runs, average 40.70, highest score 230no, 29x100s, 89x50s One-day record: 4,733 runs, average 28.00, highest score 127, 2x100s, 35x50s

He coached Hong Kong at the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada, but starts from a much stronger base with Kenya.

"Our professionals have good fitness levels, though they need more individual tuition and greater access to video analysis."

Boasting a career average above 40 and over 15,000 first class runs, its widely believed that only an untimely Achilles injury in the mid-90s denied Andy Moles Test recognition.

Rightly proud of his career, and part in Warwickshire's trophy-laden side of 1994-95, the international spotlight has come later in life than he might have hoped.

"Hanse Cronje told me that if you leave something in a better condition than when you arrive, then you've been successful. That's my philosophy too and it's what I aim to do with Kenyan cricket."