2016 review: January to April
Friday 30th December 2016
JANUARY
· Kent sign 23-year-old wicketkeeper Adam Rouse as deputy to Sam Billings, who signs a new contract extension.
· Kent opener Tammy Beaumont recalled to England squad for South Africa tour alongside team-mates Charlotte Edwards and Tash Farrant.
· Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings play for England Lions’ 3-2 series defeat to Pakistan in Dubai.
· Charlotte Edwards is named in the Dream Team for the first Women’s Big Bash league after helping Perth Scorchers to the semi-finals.
· Joe Denly gives up alcohol in 2016 in aid of Cancer Research UK and the PCA Benevolent Fund.
· A TV advert featuring England star Joe Root filmed at The County Ground, Beckenham is broadcast for the first time.
· Former Kent batsman Mark Benson retires as a first-class umpire.
FEBRUARY
· Kent announce two overseas signings: New Zealand batsman Tom Latham joins for a two-month spell and South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada agrees contract to play for Kent in June and July.
· Kent trio Tammy Beaumont, Charlotte Edwards and Tash Farrant help England to T20 series win
· Kent ‘keeper Sam Billings helps Islamabad United to lift the inaugural Pakistan Super League title in Dubai and is selected in the England squad for the ICC World T20.
· Fabian Cowdrey captains former Australia skipper Michael Clarke in Australia for Western Suburbs in Sydney.
· Spitfires LD player Luke Stoner-Lewis joins England Lions disability squad.
MARCH
· Darren Stevens skippers Kent in opening friendly
· Sam Northeast scores a century and Daniel Bell-Drummond and Alex Blake score half-centuries in Durham friendly
· Adam Riley takes 4 wickets in 14 balls in Essex warm-up match
· Work starts to secure the area where the McCarthy & Stone retirement apartments will be constructed on the Old Dover Road side of The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.
· Nursing agency Go Tec is Kent Cricket’s new County Championship shirt sponsor.
APRIL
· Rob Key announced his retirement from cricket, ending a 18-year career at the club including nine years as captain, the second longest post-war spell in charge.
· Opener Daniel Bell-Drummond hits his maiden first-class double-century against Loughborough MCCU.
· The opening Specsavers County Championship match against Worcestershire is abandoned as a draw with a ball being bowled due to a wet outfield.
· Opener Sean Dickson was out handled ball against Leicestershire – only the 62ndplayer to break Law 33, the fifth in county cricket and only the second since 1965. He joins the likes of former England captains Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan, ex-Australia captain Steve Waugh and West Indies great Desmond Haynes.
