Overseas signing Vernon Philander will go straight into the Kent Spitfires side as they begin their T20 campaign against Middlesex at Canterbury tonight.

The number two Test bowler in the world flew into the country on Wednesday, joining Kent for the next month, playing in all forms of cricket and will be involved in tonight’s game against the Panthers under the lights at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

Philander will add some venom to the Kent bowling attack for the game and is hoping to use his experience to help the side:

“I’m here to take wickets for Kent, as many of them as possible and if I can score some useful runs down the order too, then that’s great.”

“I don’t know too much about some of my team-mates, but that doesn’t matter too much. All that matters is that we get off to a winning start and put on a show for the fans.”

“Justin Kemp was the one that persuaded me to come to Canterbury as I’d had offers elsewhere.” said Philander.

Meanwhile, the South African fast bowler told KSN how he could be persuaded to stay beyond the end of July:

“It’s not totally in my hands as I am meant to be heading off to Jamaica to join up with Paul Nixon over there for the Caribbean T20 competition, but we will see what happens.”

“If something can be sorted out and Kent would like me to stay, I’m more than happy to do that.”

A big crowd is expected for the first 20 over fixture of the season with the Spitfires set to play some positive cricket.

Kent’s Chief Executive, Jame Clifford, is hoping for a good showing and told KSN how he is looking for the Kent players to play with some flair:

“It’s something we have talked about. We want to go back to the way T20 cricket was first played and that was positively. We’ve got some exciting young players and some great experience in the side.”

“We’ve got three very exciting home games to start our campaign and there’s no reason why we can’t win all three and look towards Final’s Day.”

One man missing from the side is experienced wicketkeeper Geraint Jones who will be disappointed to have lost his place in the side to Sam Billings.

Meanwhile, James Tredwell will return to Canterbury to lead the side after skippering England for the first time on Thursday night.

Tredwell stood in for the injured Eoin Morgan as the game against New Zealand was abandoned after just two balls were bowled.

Kent’s 12 man squad: Tredwell ©, Key, Northeast, Billings (w), Stevens, Blake, Harmison, Riley, Claydon, Coles, Philander, Davies.

Play gets underway at 7pm and you can join us for lives updates on Twitter at @ksncricket