Blake ends Kent career after 17 seasons
Tuesday 3rd October 2023
Kent Cricket can confirm that left-hander Alex Blake has left the Club following the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Born in Farnborough, the 34-year-old graduated from the Kent Cricket Academy in 2007, and has gone on to make 343 appearances for Kent across all formats.
An explosive hitter & multiple Men’s Fielder of the Year award winner, Blake amassed 6,902 runs for Kent in total in his 17-year career with the county – being part of the victorious T20 squads of 2007 & 2021, as well as being a regular in the side that won the 2022 One Day Cup.
Blake scored two centuries in his time as a Kent cricketer – a County Championship 105* against Yorkshire in 2010, and 116 from just 58 deliveries, amassed in his trademark aggressive style, in the 2017 One Day Cup at Taunton.
On leaving the county, Blake said: “I’ll look back with very fond memories on my 17 years as a professional player at Kent.
“Even further beyond that – my journey at the Club started out as just an eight-year-old kid in the age group setup, progressing through the Academy and eventually achieving my dream of a professional contract at my boyhood team.
“I have always given my all to the badge and hope I was able to entertain a few along the way in the manner of which I played. More importantly I have loved every minute of it.
“I’d like to thank the Club for all the opportunities they have given me, along with the many teammates I’ve had the pleasure of sharing a dressing room with, and, of course, all the fans for their support along the way.
“I want to wish the Club all the very best with the future and the new direction that they are taking. I’ll always keep a keen eye on the county’s results as a true fan of this great Club.”
Kent’s Director of Cricket, Simon Cook, said: “Blakey has been an outstanding servant for us in his long time as a Kent cricketer.
“He leaves us having made some memorable performances in T20 & one-day cricket, and will quite rightly be remembered as one of the most successful limited overs cricketers that the Club has produced.
“We thank Alex for his many contributions in a Kent shirt and wish him the very best for the future – he will always be welcome back at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.”
