Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings return to the Kent squad for the trip to Hampshire after excellent showings for the England Lions.

The pair are both named in a 13-man squad after centuries in the last two Lions games; Billings making 175 on Sunday, and Bell-Drummond scoring 171 not out on Monday in a record-breaking unbroken partnership of 367 partnership with Northamptonshire’s Ben Duckett, who scored an incredible 220 not out.

There is no place in the squad for Sean Dickson, despite him making 99 in the defeat against Middlesex at Lord’s in Kent’s last game in the competition yesterday, when he was standing in at the top of the order for Bell-Drummond.

Will Gidman is also named in the 13, having made his debut at Lord’s after joining the club on a one-month loan deal from Nottinghamshire at the weekend.

The Spitfires could well do with a win at The Ageas Bowl, having won two and lost three of their five games in the Royal London One Day Cup competition so far. Kent currently sit one spot above their opponents in sixth place in the South Group.

Hampshire have named a 14-man squad for the fixture, which features Liam Dawson, who has also been featuring for the England Lions alongside Bell-Drummond and Billings. Ryan McLaren, once of Kent, is also set to feature in the home side’s XI.

Speaking to KSN at Lord’s at the end of the Middlesex game, Dickson accepted that he was not guaranteed in a place despite his knock of 99. The game was the South African’s first List A innings for Kent, having only featured once before in the format, which was rained off last season.

“I’d love to stake my claim, but with Daniel and Bilbo coming back, it is what it is – you just keep putting in the results where you can”, the 24-year-old said.

He also admitted that he was satisfied with his top-scoring innings, though gutted to miss out on a milestone at the most historic cricket ground in the world.

“It was a very, very, very big pill to swallow”, he told KSN.

“But, if you gave me 99 at the start of the day, I would’ve taken that, especially here – it’s a beautiful place. It’s been a dream come true to play here.

“It’s been an experience. No-one likes losing, especially at a place like this – the home of cricket. It’s disappointing, but we’ve still got our heads up.”

Kent Spitfires game with Hampshire in the Royal London One Day Cup starts at 2pm on Tuesday 26 July 2016 at The Ageas Bowl.

 

Hampshire: (from) Smith, Adams, Ervine*, Dawson, Alsop, Berg, McManus, McLaren, Wheater, Crane, Best, Andrew, Wheal, Taylor

Kent Spitfires: (from) Bell-Drummond, Denly, Northeast*, Billings†, Blake, Stevens, Gidman, Coles, Tredwell, Claydon, Griffiths, Qayyum, Hartley