Match Preview: Kent vs. Yorkshire
LV= Insurance County Championship cricket returns to Canterbury for the first time in over a year as Kent take on Yorkshire behind closed doors at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.
Kent will be searching for their first win of the season after snow curtailed any slim chances of a result in a high-scoring draw at Northamptonshire last week.
The hosts sit joint third in Group 3 of the County Championship after an opening round of fixtures affected by precipitation saw all teams in the group draw. Kent picked up 14 points from their trip to the Midlands.
Darren Stevens was named Black Opal Kent Player of the Match after hitting 116 not out, his 35th career first-class hundred, and a ton that meant he has now scored a first-class century across four decades.
Harry Podmore impressed with the ball, recovering well to end with innings and match figures of 4/77.
As a mark of respect, all nine LV= Insurance County Championship matches will pause between 14:50 – 16:10 on Saturday 17 April (Day Three), to coincide with the funeral of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
To ensure lost playing time is kept to a minimum, special hours of this play will apply for this match only and are as follows:
Days One & Two
- Morning session: 11:00 – 13:00
- Afternoon session: 13:40 – 15:40
- Evening session: 16:10 – 18:15
Day Three
- Morning session: 11:00 – 13:00
- Afternoon session: 13:40 – 14:50
- Evening session: 16:10 – 18:30
Day Four
- As normal
Opposition Report
Yorkshire come to Canterbury after securing a draw at home to Glamorgan in Leeds.
After the visitors posted 330 as their first innings score, the hosts made only 193 in their first innings, and were set a target of 379 to win after Glamorgan declared on 241/4 in the final day. Yorkshire finished Day Four 223/4.
Opener Adam Lyth impressed for Yorkshire with two scores of 52 and 115 not out respectively, whilst seamer Ben Coad finished the match with bowling figures of 7/112.
England Test Captain Joe Root is available for his home county as they make the journey to Kent.
Both Gary Ballance (concussion) and Ben Coad (shoulder), who picked up injuries against Glamorgan, are unavailable for this match.
Yorkshire squad: Steve Patterson (Captain), Dom Bess, Harry Brook, George Hill, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Loten, Adam Lyth, Duanne Olivier, Mat Pillans, Joe Root, Jonny Tattersall, Jordan Thompson, David Willey.
Last time out
Kent’s draw in Northampton may have ended fairly tamely, but this match’s hosts can be optimistic about displays shown ahead of their return to Canterbury.
If ‘big hitters’ in Bell-Drummond, Crawley and Denly found the going difficult in the first innings in Northampton, Kent supporters will be heartened to see half century scores from a newer breed in Cox, Leaning and Robinson.
Darren Stevens continued to impress with a century score and two wickets, with wickets being shared evenly across a bowling attack that got more valuable match situation time, after a truncated pre-season due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Match Details & Live Streaming
This match will be played behind closed doors. NO spectators are permitted at Kent’s Men’s First XI, Second XI, or Women’s matches. Should this situation change, Members and supporters will be notified.
Kent vs. Yorkshire will be live streamed by Kent Cricket.
All available live streams will be shown live via the Match Centre on the Kent Cricket website.
In alignment with the playing schedule mentioned above, the Live Stream will stop operating between 14:50 & 16:10 on Day Three.
Team News
Heino Kuhn has recovered from a minor calf injury to join what would otherwise be an unchanged squad from Kent’s match at Northamptonshire last week.
Vice-Captain Daniel Bell-Drummond continues to skipper the side whilst Club Captain Sam Billings features in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Kent’s full Matchday Squad, presented by Black Opal Travel Group >>>
Match Previews of Kent’s LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures are proudly sponsored by FGS Plant Ltd. >>>
