Kent Cricket in Conversation: Andrew Symonds

After winning a supporters’ vote to be named Kent Spitfires’ Greatest Overseas Star in white-ball cricket since the Spitfires were born in 1999, we caught up with Andrew Symonds to discuss his time at the county and some of his crowning moments as a Spitfire.

• Firstly, how does it feel to be named as Kent Spitfires’ Greatest Overseas Star since 1999?

“Gobsmacked and honoured. It was a terrific five seasons playing with Kent, developing my game under different conditions.

“Kent is a Club steeped in history and cricket tradition and I thoroughly enjoyed that.”

• Who first approached you about joining Kent in ’99? Did you know much about the Club?

“It came through my management, but I remember Sir Colin Cowdrey being a figurehead of the club.

“I knew of the Club but didn’t know much about Kent, but I did know I had big shoes to fill following Carl Hooper & Aravinda de Silva.”

• You played in the first year that we were called ‘Kent Spitfires’ – what did you and the players make of adding a nickname in white ball cricket?

“I thought it was a good name and very appropriate to Kent with the significance of the Supermarine Spitfire to the area.

“It was sincere and meant something to Kent and its community.”

• How did it feel to win the 2001 Sunday League the way we did, on the final day of the tournament?

“It was pretty special, especially as the Club had gone a while since winning silverware.

“It meant a lot to both the team and the Club, and made the travel, work and long season so worthwhile.”

• What are your memories of your record 112 from 43 balls against Middlesex at Maidstone in 2004?

“I remember thinking it was great fun to have the freedom to play completely fearless cricket, especially during the first years of T20s.”

• Who were the best players you played alongside at Kent?

“Quite a few were top players: Mark Ealham, Min Patel, Rob Key, Matt Walker, Dean Headley, Steve Marsh and Dave Fulton were all great cricketers.

“We had a pretty good group there for a while.”

• Do you still follow Kent’s results now? Who excites you most from this current team?

“I don’t watch much cricket at all these days to be honest, but I do follow the social media pages and keep and eye on things.

“I played alongside Joe Denly when he was very young, and it’s good to see him now playing international cricket.”

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The Greatest Kent Spitfires Overseas Star vote was proudly supported by W.W. Martin >>>