Several players to get match practice in second XI friendlies
Monday 10th April 2017
Six Kent players have been selected for a joint Essex/Kent second XI one day match at Billericay Cricket Club on Monday (10 April).
Alex Blake, Adam Ball, Zak Crawley, Calum Haggett, Hugh Bernard and Matt Hunn will be joined by Essex players to take on Durham in a friendly match.
The combined side will face the same opponents in a three-day friendly starting on Tuesday at the same venue when Charlie Hartley and Imran Qayyum are set to replace Hunn and Bernard in the Kent to get some overs in the middle.
The season starts in earnest for Kent second XI against Middlesex at Radlett with a one-day Trophy fixture starting on Easter Monday followed by a three-day Championship game next Tuesday (18 April).
Kent second XI coach Min Patel is looking forward to the new season and said that we will select sides with a mixture of senior players, Academy players and triallists.
The county held trials pre-season and Patel said they are never short of players wanting to impress and prove they are worthy of a game.
The former Kent and England spinner said: “It is important to give a chance to professional players some match practice to stake their claim for first XI action but also give Academy players for the opportunity to step up to the next level and give them vital experience.”
Kent’s home second team fixtures this season will be played at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Polo Farm and The County Ground, Beckenham.
There will be no games at The Mote in Maidstone as the club says the ground is not quite ready for the return of county action.
Freelance journalist and Kent member Peter Burrowes will be providing regular reports and news of all the second team fixtures this season on the club website and weekly in Extra Cover.