Kent Spitfires’ Royal London Cup squad confirmed

Tuesday 20th July 2021

Men’s First Team

Metro Bank One Day Cup

Kent Spitfires’ Royal London Cup squad confirmed

Kent Spitfires have named a playing squad of 16 for the upcoming Royal London Cup, beginning with the visit of Durham to The County Ground, Beckenham on Thursday 22 July.

Their ranks have been bolstered ex-Sussex batter Harry Finch, former Kent Academy scholar Joe Gordon, and current Scotland international George Munsey.

Harry Finch impressed for the Second XI before signing up to play in the COVID-affected LV= Insurance County Championship fixture against Sussex. The right-hander scored a match-saving 115 in the fourth innings as Kent salvaged a draw with a team that featured six debutants.

Current Scotland international George Munsey featured in the final two Vitality Blast fixtures, helping the Spitfires qualify for a home Quarter Final. The left-hander has played in 27 ODIs, most famously being part of the Scotland team that defeated England at the Grange in 2018. Munsey hit 55 off 51 balls as Scotland secured a six-run victory.

His current List A high-score of 96 came against Oman for Scotland in 2019, and he has most recently scored 79* against Fred Klaassen’s Netherlands in May of this year.

Joe Gordon has been featuring for the Second XI regularly this year; his high-score in white ball cricket coming against Essex in the Second Eleven Twenty20, as he hit 53 off just 27 balls.

Jack Leaning will captain the Spitfires over the course of the Royal London Cup this year, with homegrown ‘keeper-batter Ollie Robinson confirmed as vice-captain.

With Head Coach Matt Walker taking up a role as Assistant Coach for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred, Simon Cook will take over as interim Head Coach for this tournament.

Kent’s Director of Cricket, Paul Downton, said: “With a number of Kent players having earned the opportunity to play in The Hundred, this gives a great opportunity for some of our younger players and some new faces to impress wearing a Kent Spitfires shirt.

“This will be an exciting tournament that every county will feel that they have a chance of doing well in. We are really looking forward to playing our Royal London Cup games at Beckenham, a ground that has hosted some fantastic white-ball matches over the years.”

Kent Spitfires’ Royal London Cup squad, presented by WW Martin >>>

Kent Spitfires’ Royal London Cup fixtures:

  • Kent Spitfires vs. Durham – Thursday 22 July – The County Ground, Beckenham – BUY TICKETS
  • Worcestershire Rapids vs. Kent Spitfires – Sunday 25 July – New Road, Worcester
  • Kent Spitfires vs. Lancashire – Wednesday 28 July – The County Ground, Beckenham – BUY TICKETS
  • Sussex Sharks vs. Kent Spitfires – Friday 30 July – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
  • Essex Eagles vs. Kent Spitfires – Sunday 1 August – The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford
  • Middlesex vs. Kent Spitfires – Friday 6 August – Radlett CC
  • Kent Spitfires vs. Hampshire Hawks – Sunday 8 August – The County Ground, Beckenham – BUY TICKETS
  • Kent Spitfires vs. Gloucestershire – Thursday 12 August – The County Ground, Beckenham – BUY TICKETS

The Club continues to develop protocols and recommendations to ensure that its venues, The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence and The County Ground, Beckenham are as safe as possible for its players, staff, Members and supporters.

The Club’s ‘test and trace’ requirements will remain in place until at least 16 August. Therefore, the Club has confirmed that its current seating and ticketing requirements will remain for all four of the forthcoming Royal London Cup matches that will be played at The County Ground, Beckenham.

Members that claim a ticket or supporters who purchase a ticket will be allocated a specific seat. Named tickets will still be required and ID checks on the gate will continue, in-line with protocols.

A full Match Day Information pack will be issued on the Kent Cricket website prior to each match.

Ground regulations will be similar to those that have worked successfully at Canterbury; this will mean that for the forthcoming Royal London Cup matches, it will unfortunately not be possible to bring your own seat into the ground and only assistance dogs will be admitted.

  • I am a Member, what does this mean for me?

All Members will continue to claim their Members’ Match Day tickets, via their online Invicta account. All Royal London Cup matches are available to claim by signing into your account and clicking VIEW TICKETSHOP on the homepage.

As previously communicated, complimentary Royal London Cup guest passes will not be valid for this season.

  • I would like to purchase a ticket(s) for a Royal London Cup match(es), are these still available?

Yes. Please click here to purchase available tickets.

A further announcement will be released in due course for matches which will be played post-16 August, including our home Vitality Blast quarter final at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence against Birmingham Bears on Friday 27 August.

NEXT HOME MATCH

Kent Spitfires start their Royal London Cup foray with the visit of Durham to The County Ground, Beckenham on Thursday 22 July.

Click here to check for Kent Spitfires vs. Durham ticket availability >>>