Henry might have priced himself out for someone who will be available for a maximum of 7 CC matches. Walker hinted recently the difficulty of getting overseas players that fit the programme.
I've mentioned on the Club Cricket thread that the Aussie (NSW and Sydney Sixers), Mickey Edwards, a 6' 6'' quick who was the top wicket taker in the Kent League last season and who holds a British passport, has signed for Yorkshire on an 18 month contract. He played for Kent 2s last season.
Jas Singh played his final game in Adelaide today and now flies back to the UK to join up with the Kent first team squad for pre season training. As I've suggested before, the standard in 1st Grade there is very high with virtually every side having four or five players who are or who have played 1st Class cricket in some shape or form. One particular side has a squad with 12 that have done so!
It is, therefore, interesting to compare last and this season for Jas:
It is also clear that he is a better red ball bowler than white currently, with his figures for the former being 23 wickets @ 16.13 average, 34 strike rate @ 2.83 economy rate
I've previously held a bit of a feeling (and having known him since he was 8) that Jas has been turning his arm over and not pushing himself to bowl as fast as he might and that he lacked the "nastiness" to be a strike bowler. From watching Jas on live stream, this isn't the case now as he is bending his back and he has been bowling a much better length too. I'm not, by any means, suggesting that he is the finished article but it is great to see the visible improvement, as a result of the work he has been putting in, suitably rewarded.
Two weeks today is our first fixture. I wonder how many beanies will be worn? And that's not including those worn by the spectators who will, no doubt, have blankets at the ready!
Two weeks today is our first fixture. I wonder how many beanies will be worn? And that's not including those worn by the spectators who will, no doubt, have blankets at the ready!
Promising bowler but more known for his white ball exploits. At least there won't be any arguments in the Kent dressing room as to who is going to be number X1 - Arshdeep has the grand total of 145 runs in 133 professional matches!
This is the full list of our 23 contracted players (1st/2nd disciplines):
Daniel Bell-Drummond (Bat/Seamer) Sam Billings (Keeper/Bat) Alex Blake (Bat/Spinner) - White ball only Ben Compton (Bat) Jordan Cox (Bat/Keeper) Zak Crawley (Bat) Joe Denly (Bat/Spinner) Joey Evison (Bat/Seamer) Harry Finch (Bat/Keeper) Nathan Gilchrist (Seamer) Michael Hogan (Seamer) Fred Klaassen (Seamer) - White ball only? Jack Leaning (Bat/Spinner) George Linde (Spinner/Bat) - Overseas James Logan (Spinner) Tawanda Muyeye (Bat/Spinner) Marcus O'Riordan (Bat/Spinner) Hamidullah Qadri - (Spinner) Matt Quinn (Seamer) Kane Richardson (Seamer) - Overseas, Vitality Blast only Arshdeep Singh (Seamer) - Overseas, June/July CC only Jaskaran Singh (Seamer) Grant Stewart (Seamer/Bat)
So, believe it or not, we have our first game starting tomorrow. 12 man squad below with Harry Finch to keep wicket and none of our 4 front line spinners available:
With the current weather I'm not sure the lack of spinner is an issue, going to be damp green soft pitches
Absolutely and that is the problem, of course, for England's potential spinners - although Kent specifically mention those spinners as "being unavailable" rather than, perhaps, the more obvious reason for why not one of them, apart from Linde, would be likely to be in the squad given the conditions.
And we do have Joe's leggies as an option, so it's not as if we have zero spin options at all.
I thought in previous years counties have gone over to the UAE for early practice matches?
And Leaning and Muyeye bowl spin too. Some counties still do go abroad - Durham, for example, have been playing in Zimbabwe. Kent opted to stay at home and I would imagine that this decision was, perhaps, a financial one although one also has to take into account how many of the first team have been playing overseas which in itself would undermine the idea.
Thinking of buying a membership for myself and wife, but live in Dartford and was wondering what parking like in the vicinity of the ground, see they recommend the park and ride in old Dover street but for only around 750 cars and was thinking that it would be shared with tourists going into the town centre and would therefore fill up quickly. They also mention park and ride from this car park don’t say if it’s to the ground or the town centre, I struggle slightly with walking to far can do a mile or so, but much further is a right pain in my foot. Alternatively is there off street parking or other parking (pay) say in a nearby school. Thanks in advance if anyone can help.
Come and support Sussex, you’ll be able to park right near the ground even for T20. While getting the benefits of Brighton and Hove and the South Downs, you feel more at home watching Sussex. Watching Sussex is like watching Charlton.
Great sales pitch. 'Avoid like the plague' would have been just as good! I know we've just won two on the spin but Accrington and Fleetwood at home isn't the sort of thing I need across the summer
Comments
I've mentioned on the Club Cricket thread that the Aussie (NSW and Sydney Sixers), Mickey Edwards, a 6' 6'' quick who was the top wicket taker in the Kent League last season and who holds a British passport, has signed for Yorkshire on an 18 month contract. He played for Kent 2s last season.
It is, therefore, interesting to compare last and this season for Jas:
Last: 9-321 @ 35.67 average, 62 strike rate & 3.45 economy rate
This: 27-558 @ 20.67 average, 36 strike rate & 3.47 economy rate
It is also clear that he is a better red ball bowler than white currently, with his figures for the former being 23 wickets @ 16.13 average, 34 strike rate @ 2.83 economy rate
I've previously held a bit of a feeling (and having known him since he was 8) that Jas has been turning his arm over and not pushing himself to bowl as fast as he might and that he lacked the "nastiness" to be a strike bowler. From watching Jas on live stream, this isn't the case now as he is bending his back and he has been bowling a much better length too. I'm not, by any means, suggesting that he is the finished article but it is great to see the visible improvement, as a result of the work he has been putting in, suitably rewarded.
Hope to see you at Canterbury in the summer.
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/arshdeep-singh-to-join-kent-cricket-as-overseas-player-during-summer-2023/
Daniel Bell-Drummond (Bat/Seamer)
Sam Billings (Keeper/Bat)
Alex Blake (Bat/Spinner) - White ball only
Ben Compton (Bat)
Jordan Cox (Bat/Keeper)
Zak Crawley (Bat)
Joe Denly (Bat/Spinner)
Joey Evison (Bat/Seamer)
Harry Finch (Bat/Keeper)
Nathan Gilchrist (Seamer)
Michael Hogan (Seamer)
Fred Klaassen (Seamer) - White ball only?
Jack Leaning (Bat/Spinner)
George Linde (Spinner/Bat) - Overseas
James Logan (Spinner)
Tawanda Muyeye (Bat/Spinner)
Marcus O'Riordan (Bat/Spinner)
Hamidullah Qadri - (Spinner)
Matt Quinn (Seamer)
Kane Richardson (Seamer) - Overseas, Vitality Blast only
Arshdeep Singh (Seamer) - Overseas, June/July CC only
Jaskaran Singh (Seamer)
Grant Stewart (Seamer/Bat)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/64941070
Full review here:
https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/match-preview-middlesex-vs-kent/?fbclid=IwAR0gvVITya7_I_yfqu5K3lMoz3HSmb5lUjuOe8mLi3WvgKJO_KE7qM4zgls
I thought in previous years counties have gone over to the UAE for early practice matches?