Aliya Bauer, 34, a Unisa graduate, said she missed cricket so much in the rural areas of northern Kenya - where she was studying baboons - that she decided to form teams among the locals, who had never played the game.
Since August, she has taught the pastoralist community of Il Polei, in Laikipia, the art of the forward defensive, the cover drive, the pull shot and fielding.
Bowling has come naturally to men who are accomplished spear-throwers, and the players now believe they can hold their own in real competition. The Maasai Cricket Warriors will take part in an amateur cricket tournament to be held in Cape Town.
The team, all of them more than 1.8m tall, play in their traditional dress of mostly strong reds, with beads adorning necks, and without helmets. Their only concession to traditional cricket garb so far has been pads and gloves.
Most have not given up their sandals, known as Firestones, for protective cricket boots. This might make them vulnerable to yorkers by opposition bowlers.
The last man stands tournament, at the Western Province Cricket Club, in Rondebosch, is expected to draw 46 teams from around the world, according to organiser Bjorn Briggs.
"Last man stands" is an unconventional form of the game in which all eight players a side get a chance to bowl and an innings is played over 20 overs.
The Warriors will certainly take it seriously, according to Bauer. And they are serious about spreading the cricket gospel to boys and girls back home.
Cricket is now being played at 20 schools, and by three youth groups and two children's homes in the Laikipia area. Last week, the Warriors were coached by Kenya's leading players, Steve Tikolo, Thomas Odoyo and Jimmy Kamande.
Bauer said: "At first, the community did not show much interest in cricket because it was associated with school activities . many did not understand the game."
But interest is growing and many elders stopped by, intrigued, to watch games.
Indifference is not the only problem Bauer, a qualified cricket coach and umpire, has faced. Because the Maasai play on bare fields, expensive leather balls do not last long. Occasionally a herd of elephants has stopped play.
But British soldiers helping to train the Kenyan army have lent a hand, bringing kit from the Cricket Kit for Africa organisation in the UK and clearing part of the Laikipia bush for a pitch.
Bauer, who recently won an International Cricket Council award for her volunteer work among the Maasai, said: "I'm using my passion for the game to bring about social change among the young in Maasai communities.
"Cricket is the platform we are using to raise awareness on social issues such as HIV/Aids, and alcohol and substance abuse, as well as harmful cultural practices such as female circumcision."
She said her dream was to see a Maasai opening the bowling for the Kenyan national team.
The last man stands cricket tournament starts on Saturday at the Keurboom Road field of the WP Cricket Club.
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