Match Preview: Kent Spitfires vs. Middlesex

Friday 11th August 2023

Men’s First Team

Metro Bank One Day Cup

Match Preview: Kent Spitfires vs. Middlesex

Kent Spitfires make their second appearance at Beckenham during the Metro Bank One Day Cup as Middlesex make the journey across the Thames to The County Ground.

Metro Bank One Day Cup tickets are just £1 for Under 15s this Summer Holidays!

Kent Spitfires will defend their title at home matches both in Canterbury & Beckenham:

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Matchday Information

Important matchday information for Members, Six Pack Ticket Bundle holders & those that have purchased match tickets can be accessed via the button below:

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We strongly advise that all Members & spectators travelling to the ground make use of public transport.

The County Ground, Beckenham is located approximately seven miles from central London.

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The County Ground, Beckenham is a cashless venue. The Kent Cricket Pop-Up Shop, ticket sales, and food & beverage payments at all outlets are conducted without cash during matches.

Venue update

Since the Spitfires’ last match at The County Ground against Leicestershire Foxes, work has taken place to move the hand operated scorebox from the Copers Cope Road end of the ground to a position near the Pavilion, to give greater scoreboard visibility to those sitting in the Main Stand.

Work has also been done to improve the readability of the video scorecard attached to the Main Stand for those to view from the Pavilion side of the ground.

There have also been efforts made to increase bandwidth to ensure a smoother streaming service on-site for this match.

Buy tickets with confidence with Kent Cricket’s Wet Weather Policy

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Opposition Report

  • Captain: Mark Stoneman
  • Overseas players: Pieter Malan (South Africa)
  • 2022 finish: Fourth (Group A)
  • 2022 leading runscorer: Stephen Eskinazi (658)
  • 2022 leading wicket taker: Umesh Yadav (16)

Key player: Mark Stoneman – With regular white-ball skipper Stephen Eskinazi and Max Holden both away on The Hundred duty, the Seaxes will look to their experienced opener to set the tempo in the powerplay. The 36-year-old left-hander will need to set a platform for bigger hitters like Joe Cracknell, John Simpson and Luke Hollman if Middlesex are to set or chase down competitive totals.

Young Player to watch: Blake Cullen – The young speedster burst onto the one-day scene in 2021, earning a late call-up to London Spirit for the inaugural The Hundred. Beset by injuries since, the still only 21-year-old showed signs during the recent Vitality Blast campaign he is ready begin building on that early promise and bolster an attack which has struggled in the white-ball format.

The men from the north side of the Thames desperately need this competition to mark an upturn in a so far forgettable season. They came close to making the knockout stages last year, but with more The Hundred call-ups this time, others will have to step from the shadows if they are to feature at the business end of the competition.

Match Coverage

Kent Spitfires vs. Middlesex will be live streamed via YouTube with synced commentary, sitting inside the Match Centre of the Kent Cricket website:

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The live stream will be coming from The County Ground, Beckenham. Should there be any technical issues, they will be worked on as soon as they arise by the Club’s staff on-site.

All of Kent Spitfires’ home & away matches during the Metro Bank One Day Cup will be live streamed for free on YouTube, with BBC radio commentary embedded.

Listen to the official Kent Spitfires One Day Cup podcast now!

For the show’s second episode, we are joined by young fast bowler & England Lion Nathan Gilchrist.

‘Gilly’ takes us through his upbringing in Zimbabwe and how he was about to walk out of ‘an introduction to cricket’ PE lesson before his teacher told him from across the hall to come back!

Then from his school transfer experience to making his debut for England Lions & winning the One Day Cup with Kent, it’s certainly a different path to Michael Hogan but just as fascinating to listen to. Gilly also informs us that he’s trying to become a wine connoisseur in his free time…

Listen to the Kent Spitfires One Day Cup Podcast now:

…or simply search ‘Kent Spitfires One Day Cup Podcast’ wherever you get your podcasts!

Team News

Simon Cook has named a squad of 13 for our clash with Middlesex.

Daniel Bell-Drummond has once again 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.

Joe Denly will be in attendance at The County Ground, but is not fit to play. Jack Leaning will captain the Spitfires.

Joey Evison misses out through an abdonimal issue with Marcus O’Riordan also sidelined through injury. Matt Quinn is also not selected.

Jaydn Denly, fresh from making his professional debut, is included.

Kent Spitfires’ Matchday Squad, presented by WW Martin >>>

Kent Spitfires squad vs. Middlesex:  Jack Leaning (Captain), Arafat Bhuiyan, James Bazley (Overseas player), Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Ben Compton, Jaydn Denly, Harry Finch, Nathan Gilchrist, Hamid Qadri, Matt Parkinson, Jas Singh, Grant Stewart

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Match Previews of Kent Spitfires’ one-day fixtures are proudly sponsored by WW Martin >>>