All-rounder Jack Leaning has signed an extension to his Kent contract, which will now run until at least the end of the 2026 season.

Right-hander Leaning signed for Kent from Yorkshire in October 2019 quickly asserting his authority at the crease in Canterbury – scoring 220* in only his second match for the Club and his first at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

In all, he has amassed 118 appearances so far in a Kent shirt, scoring over 4,000 runs in all formats at an average of over 35.00 as well as contributing 51 wickets with his right-arm off-spin.

The 30-year-old became a Vitality Blast champion in his second Summer as a Kent player back in 2021, helping the county secure their first trophy in 14 years, before being named as Kent’s Men’s Batter of the Year that season. He was awarded Kent Men Cap number 221 that September, in recognition of his efforts for the county so far.

Leaning has also captained Kent on 32 occasions so far, and the Club can confirm that he has now been appointed as the Club’s official Men’s Vice Captain, deputising to Club Captain Daniel Bell-Drummond in red-ball competition and to T20 skipper Sam Billings during the Vitality Blast.

Leaning will also be the Kent Spitfires’ Captain throughout the 2024 Metro Bank One Day Cup, subject to his availability.

On signing-on until at least the end of 2026 & becoming Vice Captain, Leaning said: “I’m extremely excited to see what the future holds at Kent Cricket and I was quick to make sure that I could commit to as many years as I could here going forward.

“I now feel right at home here – I’ve loved every second of my four seasons as a Spitfire so far, and I’m already looking forward to getting underway for 2024 and beyond.

“These past few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time with both my teammates for Winter training but also with the guys in the Club Office, seeing how we as players can contribute towards more off-field success as well as on it.

“Together we’re an extremely ambitious Club and want to remain right up there with the Test-hosting counties. I’m honoured to be Kent’s new Vice Captain and it’s a position that I’m ready to throw myself completely into.”

Kent’s Director of Cricket, Simon Cook, said: “Jack is an outstanding multi-format cricketer and we’re very pleased to have secure his talents for at least another three Summers.

“With captaincy being under a new model, it’s important to maintain a consistent and balanced voice across formats – Jack is one of the leaders of our dressing room and shares our ambitions. I’m looking forward to seeing him lead our One Day Cup side if he’s available for us.

“I hope that our Members & supporters are as excited as we are that a player of Jack’s calibre has committed his future to the Club ahead of a big year for this group.”

Picture supplied by Kent Cricket.