It has been a rough few years for Kent and having narrowly avoided relegation in 2023, they were a distant bottom last year with eight defeats and just one win, against fellow relegation sufferers Lancashire. They also struggled in the white ball competitions, finishing bottom of the South Group in the Blast and seventh in their One Day Cup group. Not surprisingly head coach Matt Walker resigned from his position after eight years in the role. Previously he had been a player at Canterbury for 16 years and guided them to the 2021 Vitality Blast title and the One Day Cup in 2022. He has been replaced by ex Surrey and England all rounder Adam Hollioake, who has signed a three year deal. Hollioake has had coaching roles with the Hong Kong national team and England Lions and was batting coach for Pakistan’s tour of Australia in 2023.
At the moment Daniel Bell-Drummond remains in charge on the field, having topped their Championship run scoring last season with 853 at 35.54. While Ben Compton, Joey Evison and Jack Leaning all passed 700 runs, no one averaged over 40. Wicket-taking, especially with the new ball, was a problem and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson topped the Championship wicket taking with 36 at a pricey 47.44. Next was George Garrett with 21, but only West Indian Akeem Jordan averaged under 30, taking eight wickets in his two Championship matches.
Wes Agar took 12 wickets in his five Championship games and has been re-signed for a third season at Canterbury. Unfortunately he was forced to end his spell with the club early in 2024 because of a shoulder injury. Agar is available for all formats and it remains to be seen if there will be any further reinforcement of the pace bowling resources.
Sam Billings is now on a purely white ball contract at Kent and captained the Blast side, leading the run scoring with 411 runs at a strike rate of 157.47. However four wins left them at the bottom of their group and at present, the outlook this year is no brighter unless more signings are announced. Australian Tom Rogers returns, having played six games last year. He did not light things up, taking just one wicket while conceding 8.41 runs per over, along with 47 runs from five innings.
Key player
At 23-years of age, Joey Evison should probably be in the “One to Watch” category, but the young all rounder shone in 2024 while things were collapsing around him. He made a permanent move from Nottinghamshire at the end of the 2022 season having spent part of the season on loan. He made a steady start to his Kent career with 597 runs at 31.42 and 19 wickets in 2023 and then kicked on last summer with 753 runs at 37.65 and 19 wickets at 37.94. He made six fifties, but no centuries and will be keen to post some three figure scores. He also contributed in the Blast, but will be hoping to improve his bowling economy rate.
One to watch
George Garrett played age group cricket for Warwickshire and debuted for the county in 2019. However opportunities became harder to come by at Edgbaston leading to his move to Kent last season. The 25-year-old seamer took more Championship wickets last summer than any of the other pace bowlers, with 21 at 34.85 and if Kent are to put up a serious challenge for promotion back to the top tier, they will need a similar effort this time around.
Ins and Outs
Overseas signings: Wes Agar (Australia), Tom Rogers (Australia, for T20)
Ins: Chris Benjamin (Warwickshire)
Outs: Arafat Bhuiyan (released), Hamidullah Qadri (released)
How will they fare
Clearly life will be a lot easier for the batters in Division Two and given the talent they have, they should be able to post substantial totals. It will just be a matter of whether the bowlers can take a few more wickets than last summer and bounce straight back up. Success in the Blast still looks a way off.
Opening fixture: CC vs Northamptonshire on April 4 at The County Ground, Northampton
Likely Championship XI:
- Muyeye
- Compton
- Bell-Drummond
- Leaning
- Joe Denly
- Evison
- Finch (WK)
- Agar
- Parkinson
- Gilchrist
- Garrett
