Alex Blake Matt Coles, James Tredwell have all been included in Kent’s 13-man squad for their County Championship fixture away at Derbyshire.

Blake and Tredwell travel to Derby with both Darren Stevens (knee) and Adam Riley (side) missing through injury. Coles returns to lead the attack having been suspended for Kent’s last two Specsavers County Championship games.

Kent are unbeaten in all competitions so far in the 2016 season, and come into their sixth Championship game of the season on the back of a high quality, eight-wicket win in their first NatWest T20 Blast outing of the season at home against Somerset last night. They currently sit second in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two table, with one win, three draws and one no result from their five fixtures so far.

Blake, who has found himself in and out of Kent’s Championship side this season, feels in good form as he prepares to return to the XI once again for the game at the 3aaa County Ground, starting tomorrow.

“I’ve just got to stay in the same good place I am at the minute with my red-ball cricket. Play my way, being positive but working on what I’ve been training on over the winter”, he said.

“For me it doesn’t take a great deal to switch to red-ball cricket.”

Both sides have players in decent form heading into the game. For Kent, the top order has fired on most occasions this season; the top four of Daniel Bell-Drummond, Tom Latham, Joe Denly and Sam Northeast are all averaging more than 50 in Championship cricket so far.

Denly made a career-best 206 not out in Kent’s draw at Northamptonshire last week, while Bell-Drummond has six 50+ scores in as many matches across all competitions this year.

For hosts Derbyshire, who currently sit seventh in the table having drawn all five of their games so far, top-order bat Chesney Hughes is in impressive form, scoring 50+ in five Championship innings so far this season; more than anyone else in either division.

The Derbyshire squad is yet to be announced, with the home side scheduled to face Lancashire Lightning in their first NatWest T20 Blast fixture at Emirates Old Trafford today. Their squad is likely to include New Zealand internationals Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom, facing up against fellow Kiwi Tom Latham in the Kent line-up.

 

Derbyshire squad: TBA

Kent squad: Bell-Drummond, Latham, Denly, Northeast*, Dickson, Blake, Rouse†, Haggett, Coles, Tredwell, Claydon, Hunn, Thomas