LV=CC: Kent v Durham match preview

Kent v Durham
LV=County Championship Division One
May 17 – May 20
St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

Kent face champions Durham in the latest round of LV= County Championship Division One matches, starting today at the St Lawrence Ground.

Both sides are struggling for form in this competition this season. The visitors currently languish second from bottom, after only claiming one win from their opening four games, while Kent lie two places above having yet to claim a victory from five games this season.

Last week Durham slumped to a crushing innings and 62 run defeat at Nottinghamshire. The loss sparked captain Will Smith to step to step down from the role and has since been replaced by wicketkeeper-batsman Phil Mustard.

Kent, on the other hand, again looked as though they could force a winning position at Chelmsford last week but Essex stood firm on the final day to ensure a draw was the outcome of a hard-fought battle.

Alex Blake (pictured) comes into the Kent XI for his first championship start of the season in place of Darren Stevens.

Kent: Denly, Key (C), Jones (W), van Jaarsveld, Northeast, Blake, Mahmood, Cook, Ferley, Khan, Ntini

All four days of the match are also being televised by Sky Sports.