Big crowds are expected at Canterbury as Kent take on the touring Australia side this week ahead of the Ashes kicking off in a few weeks time.
With England having beaten New Zealand in the T20 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, cricket fans across the country will now turn their attention to the upcoming series against the Aussies and Kent will be the first side to take them on this summer at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.
The weather is set fair for the four days with plenty of fans set to come to Canterbury for the opening day on Thursday and it’s a game that the team are looking forward to.
After a prolific start to the season, captain Sam Northeast is looking forward to taking on one of the best teams in the world:
“The Australia game will be a brilliant one and there will be a good atmosphere here.”
“Everyone is really looking forward to it and although it’s not ideal coming so soon after the Northamptonshire game, there’s no pressure on us in the game and it’s one where we can just go out and see how good we are and out ourselves up against the team that’s probably the best in the world.”
“I think we want to put out a very good team for the game, we don’t want it to be Micky Mouse, we want to go out there and put up a real fight.”
“We will have to consider the team as there a few players carrying niggles. Calum Haggett is on his way back whilst David Griffiths has been having more scans and hopefully we will see them back sooner rather than later.”
Meanwhile, batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond will give it his all to impress if selected to play against the Australians:
“At the end of the day, everyone wants to test themselves against the world’s best.”
“They have got a lot of quick bowlers, but I’m looking forward to it. If I can play that, I can play anything!”
“Hopefully I don’t get too many flat ones from Mitchell Johnson and having faced Shaun Tait I have seen what it could be like.”
“I might have to get on the bowling machine and tell them to crank it up a bit!”
Australia have already named their starting eleven for the game and it will be a strong side that takes to the field at Canterbury.
Australia side: Rogers, S Marsh, Smith, Clarke, Watson, M Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Siddle, Fawad.
Meanwhile, Kent have named their side for the four day game with Matt Coles rested due to a back problem, whilst Darren Stevens will also sit out the game as he rests a knee problem.
Unfortunately, the scans David Griffiths had have revealed that the bowler will require back surgery and will be out for the rest of the season.
Kent side: Northeast*, Bell-Drummond, Denly, Key, Harmison, Ball, Billings+, Claydon, Hunn, Riley, Thomas.