Worcestershire v Kent (Mon, 11am)
Kent travel to Worcestershire aiming to continue the unbeaten start to the Specsavers County Championship season.
The match at New Road marks the seventh fixture of 14 and skipper Sam Northeast wants second-placed Kent to extend their eight-point advantage above the third-ranked hosts in the push for promotion.
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Reflecting on the dramatic draw against Durham last week and looking ahead to Worcester and a day-night fixture at league leaders Nottinghamshire, Northeast is in confident mood.
The 27-year-old said: “If we could pick up a win and at least a draw then it would separate us from the chasing pack a little but whatever happens, there is still a lot of cricket left to play.
“Being unbeaten is nice to have on your record and it’s nice to see the pride in the team at keeping that run going.
“I know it was a draw but it felt a bit like a win. We were second best for a lot of that game. Everyone is focused on the prize and those points could end up being important.”
Kent take an unchanged 12-man squad with overseas signing Adam Milne not available until the pink-ball match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on 26-29 June.
All-rounders Moeen Ali and Australian John Hastings return to the side from Champions Trophy action as George Rhodes comes into the home line-up.
Worcestershire XI: 27 Daryl Mitchell, 15 Brett D’Oliveira, 8 Moeen Ali, 33 Joe Clarke, 34 George Rhodes, 10 Ben Cox (w), 44 Ross Whiteley, 30 Ed Barnard, 23 Joe Leach, 2 John Hastings, 24 Josh Tongue.
Kent squad: 23 Daniel Bell-Drummond, 58 Sean Dickson, 6 Joe Denly, 17 Sam Northeast, 9 Joe Weatherley, 3 Darren Stevens, 42 Will Gidman, 12 Adam Rouse, 26 Matt Coles, 86 Yasir Shah, 8 Mitch Claydon, 14 Matt Hunn.
Worcestershire v Kent stats:
- Kent ended a six-game winless run (D4 L2) against Worcestershire when these sides last met (August 2016).
- Kent have lost just twice in their last 25 fixtures (W10 D13).
- 19-year-old Josh Tongue recorded innings figures of 6/97 last time out for the Pears (v Glamorgan); his career-best in first-class cricket.
- Darren Stevens (Kent) has taken more five-wicket hauls than any other bowler in this campaign so far (five innings).