Matt Coles returns to Kent
Tuesday 10th March 2015
Kent Cricket has re-signed 24-year-old all-rounder Matt Coles.
The Maidstone-born player was released by Hampshire last week and has agreed terms to return to his home county and bolsters Kent’s options for the new season.
A Kent Cricket Academy graduate, he made his first-class debut aged 19 in 2009 after coming through the age group squads and received his county cap in 2012, when he was also called up for England Lions.
He left Kent in August 2013 to join Hampshire on a three-year deal.
On his return, Coles said: “I am delighted to be back at Kent.
“I am looking forward to joining a talented group of lads and making a real go of my second spell here.
“To come through the age groups to play for your home county was a dream come true. I can’t wait to get started and rekindle my love for the Club.”
Kent captain Rob Key said: “Matt is a cricketer with undoubted potential with both bat and ball.
“It's fantastic that he has returned to the county that brought him up through the youth system.”
With the ball, he has taken 195 first-class wickets at 29.48 runs each and 64 wickets in List A games at 23.93.
His career-best returns came for Kent in 2012 with 6-51 in the LV= County Championship at Northamptonshire and 6-32 at Yorkshire.
In the T20, Coles’ best figures were 3-14 versus Sussex Sharks in 2013.
He bats left-handed and has scored more than 1,500 first-class runs at an average of 19.58.
The all-rounder has a top score of 103 not out against Yorkshire in the LV= County Championship at Headingley in 2012.
Kent’s campaign starts in late April with LV= County Championship matches at Essex and Glamorgan before an opening home game against Leicestershire on Sunday 2 May.