Kent name 12-man squad to play Essex in LV= County Championship opener

Kent have named a 12-man squad to play Essex in the LV= County Championship opener at The Essex County Ground in Chelmsford, starting on Sunday.

Head coach Jimmy Adams said: “Getting a good start is important in the LV= County Championship and we have two tough trips to Essex and Lancashire to start which will be a good test for the lads as they start among the favourites for promotion.

“With Joe and Matt’s return, we believe we have strengthened the side and the younger lads around the squad will be a year older and wiser.

“The lads are raring to go and Sunday can’t come soon enough. We’ve had some good time in the middle against Hampshire and Loughborough so the boys are ready.”

The hosts are without Alastair Cook (England duty), Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate (IPL duty) and seamers Reece Topley and Matt Salisbury are sidelined with injury.

Essex overseas star Jesse Ryder is available and there is a place in the 13-strong squad for 17-year-old Daniel Lawrence and seamer Tom Moore, 23.

Essex squad: 10 Nick Browne, 21 Tom Westley, 32 Jaik Mickleburgh, Dan Lawrence, 76 Jesse Ryder, 7 James Foster (C/W), 83 Greg Smith, 24 Mark Pettini, 17 Graham Napier, 9 David Masters, 44 Jamie Porter, 77 Monty Panesar, Tom Moore.

Squad: 4 Robert Key (c), 6 Joe Denly,23 Daniel Bell-Drummond,17 Sam Northeast, 30 Fabian Cowdrey, 3 Darren Stevens, 20 Sam Billings (w), 26 Matt Coles, 8 Mitch Claydon, 33 Adam Riley, 5 Ivan Thomas, 22 Charlie Hartley.

Brendan Nash is ruled out with illness, as is David Griffiths (tricep) and Ben Harmison (knee) but all three men nearing a return.

Play is scheduled to start at 11am on all four days. Tickets on the gates are priced £15 for adults, £10 young Adults and £5 for under-18s.

Mike Denness Challenge Shield

The trip across the Thames on Sunday will mark the second anniversary of the death of former Kent and Essex captain Mike Denness.

The former England Test batsman was a key part of a dominant Kent side in the 1970s. Under his captaincy, the club won the John Player League three times (1972, 1973, 1976), the B&H Cup twice (1973, 1976) and the Gillette Cup in 1974.

Denness was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1975 before moving to Essex, where he won the County Championship and the B&H Cup in 1979.

In his honour, the Mike Denness Challenge Shield was launched last year as a competition between Kent and Essex.

The inaugural Shield saw Essex run out winners, with two points awarded for a LV= County Championship win, one point for a Limited Overs win and a point a piece for a draw.

Potential match milestones:

·Daniel Bell-Drummond needs 23 runs to reach 2,000 first-class runs.

·Joe Denly needs 48 runs to reach 7,000 first-class runs.

·Sam Northeast needs 95 runs to reach 5,000 first-class runs.

·Matt Coles needs five wickets to reach 200 first-class wickets.

Stats (courtesy of Opta):

·Sam Billings and James Foster both notched up 56 dismissals in Division Two last year, only Mark Wallace of Glamorgan recorded more.

·Billings made more stumpings (6) than any other wicket-keeper in county cricket last season.

·Kent have lost just twice in their last 13 games when they have won the toss, one of these defeats coming against Essex in Chelmsford last season.

·Against all opposition, Essex are unbeaten in their last 12 home matches, winning their last four on the bounce.