Kent have named a 12 man squad for their opening Championship game of the season against Yorkshire at Headingley.

The game is scheduled to start at 11am on Thursday, however overnight snow across Leeds left the Headingley outfield covered.

Yorkshire are hopeful that temperatures are set to rise and the game will go ahead as planned.

Kent will include recent signings Scott Newman (on loan), Ben Harmison, Brendan Nash, Mike Powell, Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck with Academy scholar Ivan Thomas completing the twelve man squad.

Adam Riley is expected to play despite missing Kent’s pre-season games, with Coach Jimmy Adams keen to have a spinner in his side after James Tredwell took 7 for 22 at Headingley last season.

Announcing the squad, Jimmy Adams commented; “After a good pre-season we’re all looking forward to our first game at Headingley.”

“Just playing Yorkshire, you talk about another county with a really rich heritage, rich tradition in first-class cricket in England. The first game of the season, everyone will be excited.”

Kent’s new look side will be without the likes of Sam Northeast and Alex Blake who will have to wait their turn to get back into the first eleven.

Rob Key commented on this season’s squad selection process during the Club’s Media Day on Friday; “We’ve created an environment where there’s competition for places. When I got into the side all those years ago, you had to force your way in and I’d like to think we’re back to that position now.

“The feeling we’ve had in pre-season, from Antigua to being back at home, people are on their toes now and that’s where you want to be as a cricket team.”

Key will be fit to lead the side despite having wrist surgery in the winter, with all-rounder Darren Stevens having recovered from a finger injury that prevented him from travelling on the pre-season tour to Antigua.

Meanwhile, Azhar Mahmood is in India with King’s Punjab XI for the Indian Premier League, James Tredwell is with England in Sri Lanka, whilst both Adam Ball and Daniel Bell-Drummond are with the England Under 19 side in Australia.

The full squad to face Yorkshire at Headingley will be:   Rob Key (c), Scott Newman, Ben Harmison, Brendan Nash, Mike Powell, Darren Stevens, Geraint Jones, Matt Coles, Mark Davies, Charlie Shreck, Adam Riley, Ivan Thomas.

As for new Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, he has an almost full strength squad in which to choose from.

Only all-rounder Tim Bresnan (on England duty) and opener Phil Jacques (due to arrive in mid April) are missing for the Tykes who have named a 13 man squad.

Yorkshire first-team coach Gillespie told ecb.co.uk: “It’s going to be a real challenge for us. But we are really looking forward to playing Kent. They have got a new coach in Jimmy Adams. He’s a wonderful guy and it’s good to see he has got an opportunity with Kent.

“They are going to be tough opponents and we are going to have to work really hard and play our best cricket.”

Yorkshire’s 13 man squad: Andrew Gale, Joe Sayers, Joe Root, Anthony McGrath, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad, Richard Pyrah, Ryan Sidebottom, Iain Wardlaw, Steve Patterson, Adam Lyth.