Quarter-final has captured the imagination

After a highly successful Canterbury Cricket Week, attention has focused on the Royal London One-Day Cup quarter final at home to Yorkshire.

With Yorkshire's England Test stars released for the game, it has captured the imagination of the Kent public with more than 5,000 tickets shifted by the weekend, which is more than the likes of Hampshire and Warwickshire could hope for in the same competition in the semi-finals.

It has almost taken on a life of its own, an echo of a bygone era in the 1840’s when Grand Cricket Matches would be arranged between Kent and “All England” at the Beverley Ground.

By my reckoning Yorkshire could currently raise an XI with nine current or ex-England players, in reality not all those will be taking the field at The Spitfire Ground but it does emphasise the task facing the Kent players.

What they need to do it play collectively at their maximum and also potential match-winners like Bell-Drummond, Northeast, Billings or Coles come off.

In 50 overs, a game can ebb and flow, the format suits our current squad, now is the time for them to prove it. No second chances here, no more group games, like the Olympians going for gold in Rio they will have to perform under pressure on the day.

The prize is a home semi-final against Northamptonshire or Surrey with a trip to Lord's to face Warwickshire or Somerset up for grabs.

I’ll be dreaming of a repeat of my favourite ever Kent home game, Surrey in the semi-final at Canterbury in 1992. The odds will be against it but as our Olympians will attest to, it is the taking part that counts! Come On Super Kent!