Kent have named a 12-man squad for their third Championship game of the season at home to Surrey, starting on Sunday.
The squad sees just one change from the one named for Kent’s last game – the rain-affected draw against Leicestershire – as Adam Ball replaces Charlie Hartley.
Kent are expected to name the same starting XI for the game, which would mean that Ball would be on 12th man duty, despite his 121 for a combined Kent & Essex 2nd XI in their game against Durham last week.
Speaking about their squad for the game, head coach Jimmy Adams commented: “We have included all-rounder Adam Ball in the squad for Sunday’s game against Surrey with Charlie Hartley making way.
“The lads are really looking forward to the game against Surrey and are keen to get a positive result from the fixture.”
Kent will be keen to pick up their first win of the season in the game at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, having come away from their opening two games with a defeat against Worcestershire and a draw with Leicestershire.
Surrey, meanwhile, who were relegated from Division One in 2013, have played three Championship games this season, losing their first against Glamorgan, and following that up with rain-affected draws against Essex and Hampshire.
The game will also see Surrey head coach Graham Ford make a return to Canterbury, where he spent four years as director of cricket between 2005 and 2009.
Surrey are without Tom Curran, who has school exams, and Gary Wilson, who is on international duty with Ireland. Included in their 12-man squad for the first time is 20-year-old former Worcestershire all-rounder Aneesh Kapil, who has been playing for the club’s 2nd XI and has been trialing with them.
The last time Kent and Surrey met at Canterbury was in 2011, when Kent picked up an emphatic 265-run victory; a game which saw Darren Stevens take his career-best bowling figures of 7-21, and captain Rob Key hit a second innings 110.
Of the last seven matches played between Kent and Surrey at Canterbury, the home side have won three, with one lost and three drawn.
Following the game against Leicestershire last week, Jimmy Adams also spoke about the importance of having players impress in the second XI as they push for first-team places.
“I can’t stress how much any club needs to have that upward pressure”, he said.
“I don’t take performances at second XI lightly. We need to have people who are showing that they have the capacity to be consistent, wherever they play. We are searching for consistency, but we are also looking for development as well.”
Kent have also released an update on the progress of their currently injured players. Mark Davies and David Griffiths are both set to return to full training next week, while Calum Haggett, recovering from a side strain, and Matt Hunn, suffering from a tight side and back, are both likely to be available in the next week or two.
Kent squad to face Surrey: Northeast, Key (c), Bell-Drummond, Nash, Harmison, Stevens, Billings (wk), Claydon, Joseph, Bollinger, Riley, Ball.
Surrey squad to face Kent: Burns, Smith (c), Sibley, Ansari, Kapil, Harinath, Roy, Davies (wk), Dernbach, Dunn, Linley, Meaker.