Kent have been dealt yet another injury blow as they prepare to face Yorkshire in the County Championship starting today.
Fast bowler Matt Milnes picked up an ankle injury last week against Glamorgan and has joined Harry Podmore, Grant Stewart, Tim Groenewald, Heino Kuhn and Imran Qayyum on the treatment table.
Milnes’ injury has left Kent significantly short on options with the ball, even after the loan signing of Matt Quinn from Essex on Wednesday.
Quinn is likely to play in the match and has been included in a 13-man Spitfires squad: Daniel Bell-Drummond (C), Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Miguel Cummins, Joe Denly, Nathan Gilchrist, Fred Klaassen, Jack Leaning, Tawanda Muyeye, Marcus O’Riordan, Matt Quinn, Ollie Robinson, Darren Stevens.
2019 Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year Tawanda Muyeye could make his debut for Kent after being included in a squad for the first time. Bowler Nathan Gilchrist could also feature after impressing for the seconds earlier this week.
Daniel Bell-Drummond will captain the side again due to club captain Sam Billings’ involvement in the Indian Premier League, but the wicketkeeper is back in the county and currently in quarantine following the postponement of the competition.
The Spitfires are desperate for a win following two harrowing results in their last two matches. Kent were defeated by over an innings against Lancashire in Canterbury two weeks ago before a loss inside two days versus Glamorgan last week.
Bell-Drummond’s side are currently bottom of Group Three and have the fewest points of any side in this year’s competition.
Kent have also already played their hosts this season, losing by 200 runs in mid-April, despite taking the game to the final hour of day four.
Yorkshire are competing at the right end of the table and have three wins and one draw from their opening four matches. They have 73 points, just six fewer than rivals and group leaders Lancashire.
Joe Root is back available after missing the White Rose’ one-run win against Northamptonshire last week, but former England opener Adam Lyth has by far the most runs for the team, scoring 515 runs at 73.57 with two centuries – including against Kent – and three half-centuries to his name.
With the ball, Ben Coad is back available for selection and has seven wickets at 16.00 so far this campaign, all coming in his one game. Captain Steven Patterson has also impressed with 16 wickets at 18.31, whilst David Willey (12 at 19.83) and Jordan Thompson (12 at 20.75) have backed him up well. Willey, though, has been rested for this match.
Yorkshire squad to face Kent: Steven Patterson (C), Gary Ballance, Dom Bess, Harry Brook, Ben Coad, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Duanne Olivier, Mathew Pillans, Joe Root, Jonny Tattersall, Jordan Thompson.
For the Spitfires, opener Jordan Cox now leads the way in terms of runs scored with 234 runs at an average of 33.42 so far. Wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson has the highest average at 38.33 with a best of 84, whilst the likes of Zak Crawley, Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond will be looking to improve after tough starts to the season.
Darren Stevens has the most wickets for Kent this campaign, claiming 13 scalps at an average of 19.76. All other available bowlers average over 55, highlights Kent’s tough start to the campaign.
Fans will not be allowed to attend the game in person under government guidelines, but live streams will be available to access through Kent’s website.