Match Preview: Hampshire vs. Kent Spitfires
Kent Spitfires play a first-team match on the Isle of Wight for the first time as they face Hampshire at Newclose in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
The Spitfires know that with a win here & results going their way elsewhere, Quarter Final qualification is on the cards.
With Kent currently fourth in the table, realistically the Spitfires will need to win & hope that Lancashire lose to Notts Outlaws at Welbeck CC to be in with a chance of qualification.
Third & second placed sides qualify for the Quarter Finals, with the top team going straight into the Semi Finals.
Listen to the official Kent Spitfires One Day Cup podcast now!
Hear from our Metro Bank One Day Cup assistant coach & seamer, Michael Hogan, in our first ever Kent Spitfires One Day Cup Podcast!
Listen to him speak about his career so far, coming to Kent, & his excitement ahead of our first 50-over home match of the season:
…or simply search ‘Kent Spitfires One Day Cup Podcast’ wherever you get your podcasts!
Match Coverage
Hampshire vs. Kent Spitfires will be live streamed via YouTube with synced commentary, sitting inside the Match Centre of the Kent Cricket website:
View Match Centre
All of Kent Spitfires’ home & away matches during the Metro Bank One Day Cup will be live streamed for free & on YouTube with commentary embedded.
Weather forecast
ISLE OF WIGHT WEATHER
Follow Kent Cricket on Twitter to receive live updates on prospects of play should there be any delays.
Opposition report
- Captain: Nick Gubbins
- Overseas players: N/A
- 2022 finish: Semi-finalists
- 2022 leading runscorer: Tom Prest (402)
- 2022 leading wicket taker: John Turner (20)
Key player: Tom Prest – It is hard to believe the right-handed batter, and occasional offie, is still only 20, such is his maturity and experience. Over 400 runs last year, he has all the attributes, swagger, and aesthetics to be James Vince’s talismanic successor. He missed much of the Vitality Blast after breaking his foot so will be making up for lost runs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Young Player to watch: Eddie Jack – A bustling quick bowler who is already noted by England scouts as a potential future international. The 17-year-old has already impressed for England Under 19s and will turn heads with his pace. There is also plenty of excitement around Dom Kelly. The all-rounder made his debut in last year’s competition as a 16-year-old and is likened to Chris Woakes.
Hampshire got ‘Darren Stevens-ed’ in the semi-final last year after everything in the group stage had pointed towards a white-ball double. This year they have largely the same XI, and are undoubtably among the heavy favourites. They boasted three of the top seven wicket-takers in 2022 and expect a similar stat this season, while Gubbins, Prest, Ben Brown, Aneurin Donald, Toby Albert, Fletcha Middleton and Ian Holland form a gluttonous batting card.
Team News
Simon Cook has named a squad of 14 for the Spitfires’ trip overseas, with Daniel Bell-Drummond back in the side.
The right-hander has been released by London Spirit to play in this match. Players are only eligible for release if their Hundred team has played at least two matches in The Hundred & the respective player has not been named in the starting XI for their Hundred team’s last two matches. Players also cannot play for their county on the same day as their Hundred franchise plays.
Joey Evison misses out through an abdonimal issue with Marcus O’Riordan also sidelined through injury. James Bazley is not included after picking up a slight hamstring injury against the Notts Outlaws.
Ben Lister is unavailable for Kent after being called-up to New Zealand’s IT20 Tour of the UAE. As previously communicated, the Club only expected Lister to be available for very select Metro Bank One Day Cup matches, working around international commitments.
He will be available for Kent’s last three LV= Insurance County Championship matches in September.
Kent Spitfires’ Matchday Squad, presented by WW Martin >>>
Kent Spitfires squad to face Hampshire: Joe Denly (Captain), Arafat Bhuiyan, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Ben Compton, Jaydn Denly, Harry Finch, Nathan Gilchrist, Hamid Qadri, Jack Leaning, Matt Parkinson, Matt Quinn, Jas Singh, Grant Stewart
The LV= Insurance County Championship comes to a head next month
We welcome Nottinghamshire to The Spitfire Ground in one of three first-class fixtures in September:
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Match Previews of Kent Spitfires’ one-day fixtures are proudly sponsored by WW Martin >>>
