Player Biography

As a 17-year-old Kent Cricket Academy player, Jaydn was added to Kent Spitfires’ Metro Bank One Day Cup squad during the 2023 season to get his first taste of first-team action.

He made a memorable debut at Surrey; after receiving his debut cap from his Uncle, Joe, he would be called in to bat for just the final ball of Kent’s innings, late cutting Conor McKerr’s full delivery to the third man boundary for four on one knee. Then, with the ball, he bowled a wicket maiden in his first over as a first-teamer – bowling Cameron Steel as he attempted a ramp shot.

Jaydn’s home debut was at The County Ground, Beckenham in August 2023 – in Kent’s 133-run one-day victory over Middlesex. Against Essex at The Spitfire Ground, Denly took an outstanding diving catch on the boundary to dismiss Feroze Khushi.

He graduated from the Kent Cricket Academy in November 2023, signing his first rookie deal as a first-team player. That month, he toured India with England U19s’ Youth ODI side, before being named in the Young Lions’ U19 World Cup squad for the tournament in January 2024.

He made his first-class debut at the age of 18 away at Essex in the County Championship on 12 April, the day after scoring a hundred against the same opponents’ Second XI in the Second XI Championship at Beckenham. An injury to Joey Evison in warm-ups meant that Denly made the journey overnight to make his debut the next day.

In Kent’s second innings at Chelmsford, Jaydn showed calmness beyond his years by anchoring Kent’s batting line-up to help secure on the final day – his 41 not out came in 128 deliveries, after 114 minutes in the middle.