Kent Spitfires have named a 13-man squad for their second NatWest T20 Blast fixture of the season, away against Hampshire on Thursday night.
Sam Billings will make his first T20 appearance of the season for Kent, having returned in this week’s weather-affected County Championship game against Leicestershire after his time in the IPL.
David Griffiths and Matt Coles are also both in the squad, having each featured for Hampshire earlier in their careers.
Mitch Claydon, who has been one of Kent’s leading death bowlers in limited-overs cricket in recent years, misses out with a side strain.
Home side Hampshire are recognised as one of the strongest T20 sides in the country, and have named a dangerous-looking 14-man squad for the game at The Ageas Bowl.
James Vince returns from international action with England to take his place in the squad, while new signings Shahid Afridi and Darren Sammy, two of the most renowned T20 players in the world, are both set to play. Afridi has featured for Hampshire in previous years, while Sammy is set to make his debut for the club.
Michael Carberry, once of Kent, is also named.
Speaking about his return to Kent, Billings said: “It’s great to join back up with the lads. They’ve had a fantastic start to the year and I’ve been keeping tabs on Kent from the heat of India.
“Speaking to the guys, it’s been the best pre-season and start they’ve been a part of.
“I hope I can come in and add to it. It was a special experience in the IPL and it has improved me as a player.”
Both sides have played a solitary game in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast so far, with the Spitfires beating Somerset by eight wickets in a storming performance at Canterbury, and Hampshire suffering a heavy, 69-run defeat away to Middlesex.
The game against Hampshire starts at 7pm at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton, before Kent head home to play their first game of the season at Beckenham on Friday night, where they will take on Gloucestershire.
Hampshire: (from) Carberry, Adams, Vince*, Wheater†, Ervine, Afridi, Sammy, Dawson, Smith, Berg, Best, Andrew, Crane, Stevenson
Kent: (from) Denly, Bell-Drummond, Latham, Northeast*, Stevens, Blake, Cowdrey, Billings†, Coles, Griffiths, Tredwell, Hunn, Thomas