Match Preview: Kent vs. Essex
The first instalment of this year’s contests between Kent & Essex takes place in the LV= Insurance County Championship at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence from this Thursday.
As always, the Mike Denness Shield is up for grabs & will be awarded to the side that gains the most victories across all formats in 2023.
The Spitfires will be hoping for more runs from the bat of leading run-scorer Ben Compton (241), who averages 80.33 this season following a century in match one against Northamptonshire & 88 in the second innings against Warwickshire. Joey Evison, Jack Leaning, Zak Crawley & Daniel Bell-Drummond have all contributed at least 100 runs for Kent so far this campaign.
Both Evison & Matt Quinn have six wickets each for Kent in red-ball competition for 2023, with Grant Stewart & Michael Hogan both having contributed three apiece – Leaning & Bell-Drummond also have two.
Matchday Information
Important matchday information for Members, Six Pack Ticket Bundle holders & those that have purchased matchday 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 Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence is located approximately a mile from the historic Cathedral City Centre of Canterbury.
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The 2023 Kent Cricket Annual will be on sale at the Kent Cricket Shop during this match.
Live Match Centre
Kent vs. Essex will be live streamed & embedded into the Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website. BBC Radio commentary will be synced to pictures coming via Kent Cricket.
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The Battle of the Bridge turns T20-style this June
Kent Spitfires will face Essex in a T20 showdown back at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence at a new start time of 18:30 on Wednesday 7 June:
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Ticket holders for this match also gain complimentary access to South East Stars vs. Central Sparks in the Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 competition from 14:00 on the same day.
Opposition Report
Led by Tom Westley, Essex currently sit third in Division One with one win & one draw so far this season – their draw with Lancashire going right down to the final stages of Day Four last time out.
New Zealand international all-rounder Doug Bracewell made his debut against Lancashire & is Essex’s overseas player for the first half of the 2023 season – he took four wickets against the Red Rose.
Jamie Porter leads the way with the ball for Essex with an impressive return of 12 wickets so far opening the bowling for the Eagles – Sam Cook also has ten wickets & the off-spin of South Africa’s Simon Harmer has also accounted for seven dismissals.
All-rounder Matt Critchley is Essex’s top scorer so far in the Championship – he has 221 runs across four innings, followed by England’s Dan Lawrence (196) & skipper Westley (103).
Team News
The Club announced the signing of Australian fast bowler Wes Agar for the next four LV= Insurance County Championship matches last week – with the right-arm quick now having arrived at Canterbury & available for selection.
Matt Quinn & Michael Hogan have been rested for this fixture – they have been replaced by returning Nathan Gilchrist & Grant Stewart.
Conor McKerr is set to make the final appearance of his two-match loan spell from Surrey.
Kent’s Match Squad, presented by Black Opal Travel Group >>>
Kent’s Match Squad vs. Essex: Sam Billings (Captain), Wes Agar, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Ben Compton, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Joey Evison, Nathan Gilchrist, Hamid Qadri, Jack Leaning, Conor McKerr, Grant Stewart.
Weather forecast
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Match Previews of Kent’s LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures are proudly sponsored by FGS Plant Ltd. >>>
