Kent will kick off their 2020 T20 Blast campaign on today when they welcome Hampshire to The Spitfire Ground.

This year the Blast, like the Bob Willis Trophy, will see teams put into three regionalised groups, and will kick off with seven games on Thursday.

The tournament will run into October, with Finals Day scheduled for October 3.

The Spitfires will be looking to reach the quarterfinals of this year’s competition after falling short in 2019’s version. The side won six of their first seven games but their form plummeted and they didn’t win any of their last seven matchups, meaning they finished fifth in the south group and missed out on qualification for the knockout stages.

Personnel wise, Kent will be without England duo Sam Billings and Joe Denly, the club captain and vice captain respectively, due to England duty, but they will be delighted to welcome back England’s latest test centurion Zak Crawley following the 22-year-old’s 267 against Pakistan last week.

Whilst Heino Kuhn is still missing for personal reasons, Alex Blake, the club’s only white ball contracted player, will add some batting depth to the team’s ranks.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kent won’t be able to call on any overseas players – Mohammad Nabi was due to play for The Spitfires in this year’s competition – and will also be without Kolpak bowler Hardus Viljoen.

Imran Qayyum and Callum Haggett, neither of whom have featured for Kent this season, are both included in the squad for the game, with Harry Podmore and Darren Stevens perhaps the two main surprise absentees.

For Hampshire, they will be without England internationals James Vince and Liam Dawson – through personal reasons and injury respectively – but new signing George Munsey could feature. 

Hampshire will be looking to improve on last season’s seventh place finish in the South Group.

Kent Spitfires squad to face Hampshire: Daniel Bell-Drummond (C), Alex Blake, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Callum Haggett, Fred Klaassen, Jack Leaning, Matt Milnes, Marcus O’Riordan, Imran Qayyyum, Ollie Robinson, Grant Stewart.

Hampshire squad to face Kent Spitfires: Sam Northeast (C), Tom Alsop, Mason Crane, Scott Currie, Ajeet Dale, James Fuller, Ian Holland, Lewis McManus, George Munsey, Felix Organ, Ryan Stevenson, Joe Weatherley, Brad Wheal, Chris Wood.