Doug Bollinger has been rested from Kent’s squad for their Championship game against Worcestershire, starting at Tunbridge Wells on Sunday.

The 32-year-old left-arm seamer has been mightily impressive for Kent since joining as the club’s overseas signing at the start of the season, taking 22 wickets – the fourth highest in LV= County Championship Division Two –  at an average of just 21.36 in the five four-day matches he has played so far.

However, he is rested for the visit of Worcestershire following an unbroken period of playing that stretches back to include the Australian domestic season and the World T20 tournament.

Bollinger is replaced in the squad by Robbie Joseph, who started Kent’s first two Championship matches of the season, and took impressive figures of 4-58 against Sri Lanka last week, earning himself the Fitzgerald Jewellers Man of the Match award in the process.

Other than that, the squad has maintained a consistent selection from what has been seen in the rest of Kent’s four-day matches this season, with Ben Harmison returning having hit a career-best 125 against Gloucestershire last week, but having been left out of the squad for the superb, 42-run NatWest T20 Blast win at Somerset last night.

With James Tredwell still on international duty, Adam Riley is selected as the frontline spinner, while Adam Ball also retains his place in the side.

Matt Hunn is set to take over 12th man duties from Charlie Hartley.

Kent’s win over Somerset last night saw Daniel Bell-Drummond, Rob Key and Darren Stevens all shine with the bat, so they will be hoping to carry over their good touch into the longer form of the game.

The game, which will be played at The Nevill Ground, represents the 102nd Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival. Day one of the game will be linked to all things “Made in Kent”, including former England wicket-keeper Jack Russell displaying some of his artwork, while Bank Holiday Monday will be “Ladies Day”.

Speaking about returning to The Nevill Ground, Kent Head Coach Jimmy Adams said: “We always look forward to playing in Tunbridge Wells and appreciate the support we receive there.

“Worcestershire are tough opposition but we aim to get back onto the winning path in the LV= County Championship as soon as we can.”

The visitors come into the match in excellent form, sitting in second place in Division Two with three wins from their five games so far, including a 125-run victory over Kent in the season opener at New Road. Opening batsman and captain Daryl Mitchell is in particularly good nick, topping the averages for the Division with 667 runs at 111.16 in eight innings so far in 2014.

Their side is also expected to include one of the world’s best spin bowlers in Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who has taken 26 wickets in just three appearances for the side so far this season, and recorded match figures of 13-94 in Worcestershire’s 72-run win against Essex in their last Championship game.

Also likely to play is batsman Moeen Ali, widely tipped to be included in the England Test squad later this summer.

Kent have an impressive record in games played between the sides at Tunbridge Wells; winning four and drawing six of the 10 encounters, although Worcestershire have lost just one of their last 15 Championship visits to Kent at all venues, taking five wins and nine draws.

The match is scheduled to begin at 11am on Sunday 25 May at The Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells, with gates opening to the public at 9am.

 

Kent squad to face Worcestershire: Northeast, Key*, Bell-Drummond, Nash, Harmison, Stevens, Billings†, Ball, Riley, Claydon, Joseph, Hunn

Worcestershire squad to face Kent: Mitchell*, Pardoe, Ali, Fell, Kervezee, Whiteley, Cox†, Leach, Shantry, Ajmal, Morris