Captain Tredwell returns as Kent take on second placed Northants

Northamptonshire v Kent
LV= County Championship Division Two
17 September –20 September, 10.30am start.
Wantage Road, Northampton

After drawing against Essex in their last outing, Kent's cricketers will want to finish the season in style as they end the season with matches against second placed Northants and then a homefixture against Lancashire, the league leaders.

Team news:

Kent have named a 12-man team for the match with skipper James Tredwell returning from England duty and Sam Billings and Adam Ball coming in for Geraint Jones and Calum Haggett.

Geraint's non involvement brings an end to his consecutive run of115 Championship matches. Head Coach Jimmy Adams is clearly delighted to have Tredwell back as he also explains the other selection changes: “We are pleased James is back for the trip to Northants. He is a talented cricketer so it's good to have him with us again, leading the team.

“Jonah (Geraint Jones) has played in all competitions, throughout the season, so we are deciding to give him a break and to have a look at Sam Billings. Sam had a good back end to the second-team season and we are now giving him the opportunity to come in and show people what he can do in Championship cricket.

“Calum strained his thigh in the last game and is struggling so we've taken the decision not to play him. He's been performing well so he will be missed. On the plus side, it gives an opportunity for Bally (Adam Ball) to come in and get his chance in the first-class side.”

The team is: James Tredwell, Rob Key, Sam Northeast, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Brendan Nash, Ben Harmison, Darren Stevens,Sam Billings (w),Adam Ball, Mark Davies, Charlie Shreck,Adam Riley.

Players to watch:

Darren Stevens is leading the way for Kent in the LV= County Championship. The all-rounder has scored 995 runs in the four-day competition at an average of 55.28, with a highest score of 136. Stevens has hit six half centuries and three centuries for Kent so far this season and will look to pass the magical thousand-run mark at Wantage Road.

Former Kent all-rounder Andrew Hall is leading the way with the bat for Northants in Championship cricket. The South African has scored 854 runs in four-day cricket, at an average of 61.00 with a high score of 130. He hashit five half-centuries and three hundreds in what's been a profitable season for the 38 year-old.

Pre-match chat:

CaptainJames Tredwell is back to lead the side for the trip to Northants and Head Coach Jimmy Adams is looking for a good display against the side that currently occupies the second automatic promotion spot: “Since the home defeat to Northants earlier this season, we'veplayed some goodChampionship cricket so let's hope we can end on a high with good performances against the two top sides, Northants and Lancashire.

"We are playing against a team that is second and they've also played well in limited-overs cricket too so it will be a good test for the boys."

Season so far:

Both sides have only lost twice this season in the LV= County Championship.

Northants, who are second, have recorded five wins, seven draws and two defeats. They've taken 49 batting points – the most in the division – and 38 bowling points – only Worcestershire and Lancashire haveaccrued more.

Kent's 14 matches have produced two wins, two defeats and ten draws – the most in the division. Kent have recorded 32 batting points – only Worcestershire and Leicestershire have taken fewer points while Kent's 27 bowling points is the fewest in the division.

Kent drew with Essex in their last outing while Northants played out a draw against Hampshire.

Previous meetings:

In total there have been 67 matches played between the two counties with 29 wins for Kent and 16 victories for Northants.

In the reverse fixture at Canterbury, back in May, Northants recorded a comfortableseven-wicket success but Kent were at their very best on their last visit to Northampton – winning by an innings and 120 runs.

Pace bowler Matt Coles was the catalyst as Kent recorded their first win under Head Coach Jimmy Adams. Coles, fresh from scoring a maiden first-class century in last season’s opener against Yorkshire, claimed nine victims in the match as Kent brushed aside their opponents inside three days. Batsman Mike Powell, who recently announced his retirement, hit an unbeatencentury for Kent in the victory.