Kent County Cricket Club in 2020
In 2020 Kent County Cricket Club were scheduled to compete in Division One of the County Championship, the Royal London One-Day Cup and the 2020 t20 Blast. However, the season was heavily disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, with no county cricket fixtures played until August.[1] For the shortened season, the majority of counties voted on 7 July to play first-class and Twenty20 cricket,[2] with the Royal London One-Day Cup being cancelled.[3] Instead of the County Championship this year, the 18 first-class counties will compete in the Bob Willis Trophy, which will consist of three regional groups of six teams and a likely final at Lord's.[4]
2020 season | |||
Coach | ![]() | ||
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Captain | ![]() | ||
Ground(s) | St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | ||
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The season will be the fourth in charge for head coach, and former player, Matthew Walker. Former Kent bowler Simon Cook became the new bowling coach after a spell as head coach of the Hong Kong national team, replacing South African Allan Donald who left the county at the end of the previous season.[5][6] Former England all-rounder Michael Yardy joined Kent as the new batting coach in February 2020.[7] Sam Billings retained the club captaincy that he was first awarded in 2018.[8]
The delayed start of the season and the resulting loss of income meant that, like many other counties, Kent decided to cancel contracts for their overseas signings.[9] New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry had been due to return for the first part of the season after a highly successful spell with the county in 2018.[10][11] Meanwhile, Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi had signed to play for the county in the t20 Blast for a second successive year.[12][13]
Squad
Batsman Alex Blake signed a new white-ball (limited overs) contract with the county in January 2020, becoming the first homegrown player to sign such a deal with Kent.[14]
Departures
Mitchell Claydon left Kent after seven years with the team, to join Sussex at the end of the 2019 season.[15] In July 2020, batsman Sean Dickson departed the club to join Durham, initially on loan for the 2020 season.[16] On 30 July, wicket-keeper Adam Rouse announced his retirement from cricket at the age of 28, after having played four seasons with Kent.[17]
Arrivals
In August 2019, Kent announced that they had signed Yorkshire all-rounder Jack Leaning on a three-year contract from October 2019.[18] In September 2019, Kent announced the signings of teenage Afghan-born England Under-19 off-spinner Hamidullah Qadri from Derbyshire on a three-year deal.[19] A few days later, the county also announced the signing of 35 year-old seamer Tim Groenewald from Somerset on a two-year deal from 2020.[20]
Zimbabwean-born 20-year old fast bowler Nathan Gilchrist, who had yet to play a senior match, joined Kent in August, initially on loan from Somerset ahead of signing a three-year contract.[21]
Squad list
- Ages given as of the first day of the Bob Willis Trophy, 1 August 2020.
No. | Name | Nationality | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Batsmen | ||||||
4 | Heino Kuhn | ![]() | 1 April 1984 (aged 36) | Right-handed | — | Kolpak signing |
6 | Joe Denly | ![]() | 16 March 1986 (aged 34) | Right-handed | Right arm leg break | Vice-captain |
10 | Alex Blake | ![]() | 25 January 1989 (aged 31) | Left-handed | Right arm off break | White-ball matches only[14] |
16 | Zak Crawley | ![]() | 3 February 1998 (aged 22) | Right-handed | Right arm medium | |
23 | Daniel Bell-Drummond | ![]() | 3 August 1993 (aged 26) | Right-handed | Right arm medium | |
34 | Jack Leaning | ![]() | 18 October 1993 (aged 26) | Right-handed | Right arm medium/off break | |
All-rounders | ||||||
3 | Darren Stevens | ![]() | 30 April 1976 (aged 44) | Right-handed | Right arm medium | |
9 | Grant Stewart | ![]() | 19 February 1994 (aged 26) | Right-handed | Right arm medium | EU passport holder |
25 | Calum Haggett | ![]() | 30 October 1990 (aged 29) | Left-handed | Right arm medium-fast | |
55 | Marcus O'Riordan | ![]() | 25 January 1998 (aged 22) | Right-handed | Right arm off break | |
Wicket-keepers | ||||||
7 | Sam Billings | ![]() | 15 June 1991 (aged 29) | Right-handed | — | Club captain |
21 | Ollie Robinson | ![]() | 1 December 1998 (aged 21) | Right-handed | — | |
22 | Jordan Cox | ![]() | 21 October 2000 (aged 19) | Right-handed | — | |
Bowlers | ||||||
1 | Harry Podmore | ![]() | 23 July 1994 (aged 26) | Right-handed | Right arm medium | |
5 | Ivan Thomas | ![]() | 25 September 1991 (aged 28) | Right-handed | Right arm medium-fast | |
11 | Imran Qayyum | ![]() | 23 May 1993 (aged 27) | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
18 | Fred Klaassen | ![]() | 13 November 1992 (aged 27) | Right-handed | Left arm medium-fast | |
29 | Matt Milnes | ![]() | 29 July 1994 (aged 26) | Right-handed | Right arm medium-fast | |
34 | Tim Groenewald | ![]() | 10 January 1984 (aged 36) | Right-handed | Right arm fast-medium | |
75 | Hamidullah Qadri | ![]() | 5 January 2000 (aged 20) | Right-handed | Right arm off break | |
– | Nathan Gilchrist | ![]() | 11 June 2000 (aged 20) | Left-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | UK passport; on loan from Somerset for 2020 |
Bob Willis Trophy
Matches played in the Bob Willis Trophy will have first-class status, but there will be some differences to the playing conditions compared to the County Championship. The minimum number of overs in a day is reduced to 90, the follow-on increases from 150 to 200, the new ball will be available after 90 overs instead of 80, and each team's first innings can last no longer than 120 overs.[22] Kent's first match of the delayed season began on 1 August against Essex at Chelmsford.[23]
South Group
Team |
Pld | W | L | T | D | A | Bat | Bowl | Ded | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Essex | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 42 |
Kent | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 31 |
Middlesex | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 26 |
Hampshire | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 24 |
Sussex | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 22 |
Surrey | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
- As of 11 August 2020
Matches
1–4 August |
v |
Essex (H) |
Essex won by 2 wickets |
| |
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8–10 August |
v |
Kent (H) |
Kent won by an innings and 25 runs |
| |
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15–18 August |
v |
Kent (H) |
| ||
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Umpires: NL Bainton and NJ Llong | |||||
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22–25 August |
Surrey (H) |
v |
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6–9 September |
Kent (H) |
v |
| ||
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References
- "Domestic season delayed until 1 August because of coronavirus". BBC Sport. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Counties vote to play red and white ball cricket when season starts on 1 August". BBC Sport. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Counties could be offered opt-out as Hampshire express red-ball reservations". ESPN Cricinfo. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "First-class counties to compete for Bob Willis Trophy". ESPN Cricinfo. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Allan Donald: South Africa Test legend to leave Kent at season's end". BBC Sport. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Cook relishing new role as Bowling Coach". Kent County Cricket Club. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Mike Yardy: Kent appoint former England one-day all-rounder as batting coach". BBC Sport. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Sam Billings: England limited-overs player replaces Sam Northeast as Kent captain". BBC Sport. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Counties remain hopeful of two overseas players for 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Matt Henry: Kent re-sign New Zealand paceman for start of 2020 season". BBC Sport. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Matt Henry: Kent cancel deal for New Zealand pace bowler". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Mohammad Nabi: Afghanistan all-rounder to rejoin Kent for T20 Blast". BBC Sport. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Mohammad Nabi: Kent T20 return cancelled after coronavirus delay". BBC Sport. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Alex Blake: Kent batsman signs new white-ball deal until 2022". BBC Sport. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Mitch Claydon: Kent seamer to leave after seven years for Sussex in 2020". BBC Sport. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Sean Dickson: Durham sign opener from Kent". BBC Sport. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Rouse retires from cricket". Kent County Cricket Club. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- "Jack Leaning: Kent sign Yorkshire batsman on three-year contract from 2020". BBC Sport. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Hamidullah Qadri: Kent sign Derbyshire & England U19 off-spinner on three-year contract". BBC Sport. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Tim Groenewald: Seamer leaves Somerset to join Kent on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- Nathan joins Kent, Somerset County Cricket Club, 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- "Everything you need to know about the Bob Willis Trophy". England and Wales Cricket Board. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- "Bob Willis Trophy fixtures 2020: Full schedule, dates, matches". The Cricketer. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- Bob Willis Trophy Table, BBC Sport.
- Bob Willis Trophy 2020, CricInfo.
- Bob Willis Trophy Tables, England and Wales Cricket Board.
- "Cox chuffed with maiden ton". Kent Sports News. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- "Bob Willis Trophy: Cox & Leaning centuries put Kent in front against Sussex". BBC Sport. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- "Darren Stevens skewers Sussex after Jordan Cox, Jack Leaning run-bonanza". ESPN Cricinfo. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- "Kent seal emphatic innings win as records fall". Kent County Cricket Club. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
External links
- Kent home at ESPN cricinfo
- Kent County Cricket Club official site