Kent will be searching for their first win of the 2021 season when they host Lancashire in County Championship action this week, starting on Thursday.
The match will be the Spitfires’ third of the season, and follows a draw at Northamptonshire and a defeat at home to Yorkshire. Matt Walker’s side are currently fourth in group two of the Championship with 19 points.
Kent have named an 11-man squad for the game, thus revealing their starting XI, and it is as follows:
Daniel Bell-Drummond (C), Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Heino Kuhn, Jack Leaning, Ollie Robinson, Darren Stevens, Matt Milnes, Miguel Cummins, Fred Klaassen.
Kent have been plagued with injuries of late, with Harry Podmore picking up a side strain on day one against Yorkshire and facing a sustained spell on the sidelines. All-rounder Grant Stewart is nursing an abdominal injury, whilst Tim Groenewald has had knee surgery. Spinner Imran Qayyum is dealing with a shoulder issue.
Podmore and Stewart are replaced in the Kent XI but the returning Heino Kuhn – who had been struggling with a calf issue – and seamer Fred Klaassen, meaning the home side are opting to go with an extra batsman for the game.
Veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens leads the way with both bat and ball for the Spitfires this season, scoring 215 runs at an average of 107.50 to date, including an unbeaten 116 in the game at Northants. With the ball, the 44-year-old has six wickets at an average of 26.66.
Visitors Lancashire are second in group two after a win and a draw in their opening two games, and won last time out – against Northants – by 206 runs. Batsman Steven Croft hit a century in the second innings as England duo Matt Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood starred with the ball.
England’s all-time leading test wicket taker James Anderson was set to feature in the game, but misses out with a slight calf issue.
Lancashire squad to face Kent: Dane Vilas (C), Tom Bailey, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Luke Wells, Luke Wood.
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.