Match Preview: Lancashire v Kent LV=CC, 24 – 27 April

Lancashire v Kent

LV= CC Division Two

24 April – 27 April 2013, 11am start

Old Trafford, Manchester

Kent make the trip north to Manchester this week where they take on promotion favourites Lancashire at Old Trafford in the latest round of LV= County Championship fixtures.

The season so far:

Both teams recorded draws in their opening fixtures, with Kent enjoying a run-laden start to the season at Grace Road against Leicestershire last week. After being put in on day one, the visiting batsmen made hay and found the boundary regularly on their way to 406. Brendan Nash, Geraint Jones and Matt Coles all scored half-centuries as all but an unbeaten Charlie Shreck, batting at number eleven, made it into double figures to hand Kent a solid start to the season.

On a flat wicket, bowling proved a little trickier but new captain James Tredwell would have been happy with the way his attack stuck to their task. Youngster Calum Haggett continued an impressive LV= CC debut by following up his 40 with the bat by returning 3-79 with the ball, however centuries for Matthew Boyce and the impressive Shiv Thakor saw the hosts up to 495.

Kent avoided any last day alarms by moving serenely to 213 for two before a draw was called. Rob Key struck a fluent, unbeaten 104 and Nash followed up his first innings half-century with 62 as both sides claimed nine points from the clash.

Lancashire, a year after winning the division one title, were relegated last season and faced Worcestershire – another side who fell through the trap door in 2012 – in their division two debut. In the end the elements ensured a tame draw but there was enough cricket played to show that Lancashire look a strong outfit.

Worcestershire batted first at Old Trafford and were bowled out for 334. Moeen Ali, Daryl Mitchell and Gareth Andrew scored fifties but four wickets for medium-pacer Luke Procter pegged the visitors back. Procter then showed his all-round talents, making 53 at the top of the order after being promoted at the expense of Stephen Moore, who missed the chance to face his former club. Ashwell Prince (95), Simon Katich (84) and Paul Horton (66) were also in the runs as Lancashire amassed 448 for seven, before declaring. Worcestershire only faced eleven overs in their second innings as the home side took nine points from the draw.

Previous meetings:

The two sides last met in four-day cricket, on northern turf, back in 2010 when they played out a draw at Old Trafford. Kent started the division one fixture on top, reducing the home side to 12 for two with pacemen Makhaya Ntini and Amjad Khan taking a wicket apiece. However, Lancashire soon rallied with South African Prince (115) and Steven Croft (93) seeing them up to 320 all-out. Darren Stevens (4-44) and Ntini (3-46) took the bowling honours for Kent.

In reply the visitors slumped to 97 for seven as former England paceman Sajid Mahmood (5-55) ripped through the Kent batting xard. However, Stevens showed his all-round talents launching a stunning counter-attack. The right-hander smashed a belligerent, unbeaten 101 – off 129-balls – as he put on 92 for the eighth wicket with Coles (33) to see them up to a more reasonable 213. A mixture of this doggedness and poor weather allowed Kent to leave the north with a draw.

Lancashire posted 177 for three in their second innings; Prince again passed fifty, setting Key’s men a victory target of 285. In the end just over eleven overs were possible, and despite Mahmood claiming two more victims, Kent finished on 45-2 as the honours were shared.

In 97 four-day visits to Old Trafford, Kent have taken glory 13 times with Lancashire often holding the upper hand with 48 victories, spanning from 1871.

Click here for the full Lancashire v Kent Match History, kindly prepared by Martin Moseling

Players to watch:

With Daniel Bell-Drummond replacing Calum Haggett in the Kent squad for this fixture, it looks as though Darren Stevens is fit enough to complement Tredwell’s bowling attack. His medium-pacers have proved successful at OId Trafford before and his explosive batting attributes means he is a crucial cog in Kent’s mechanism.

Jimmy Anderson is likely to make all the headlines – success or not – but Lancashire have an abundance of runs in their top-order. Former Australian Test-match batsman Simon Katich and South African Ashwell Prince make a formidable four and five axis that Kent will be looking to dislodge early. Prince signed a two-year Kolpak contract with Lancashire over the winter, effectively calling time on an international career that yielded 3,665 Test-match runs at an average of over 41. The 35 year-old will be looking for a run-filled summer with the Red Rose county.

Pre-match chat:

Kent batsman Michael Powell was happy with the way the team played on a flat surface at Grace Road last week but is well aware of the tough task they face this week.

“I think we were a little bit undercooked going into the Leicestershire game. We had no real time in the middle, going into it, but the time we spent in the field and with bat and ball will prove highly beneficial.

“I don’t think that the rain affected the result. They produced a flat wicket because they were afraid of what our seam bowlers could’ve done on something a bit spicier. I guess it was flattering because they were afraid of what we’ve got but I don’t expect Lancashire to do the same because their attack can match ours.

“Lancashire are a big club and it was a surprise to most that they came down the year after winning the first division title. I don’t follow other teams that closely but I think they struggled for runs. However, we can’t read too much into that. They are a big club and have made one or two signings. Things will quickly turn things around and they will expect to go straight back up but we will hope to put a spanner in their works by playing well at Old Trafford.

“They’re a very successful side and have quality throughout. England’s Jimmy Anderson is coming back into the fold for this game so we will have to play very well to get any kind of result.

“James [Tredwell] is as good as gold. He is a very good captain, and, perhaps, more importantly a good role model. He is the type of captain who says follow me rather than one that makes powerful type speeches in the dressing room. He is a tough cricketer and we are all firmly behind him.

“There is a good blend here at Kent; with some youth and experience. What I like is the fact that the younger players are keen to learn and ask you things; whether it be about batting or bowling. We don’t look at is as experienced players and youngsters because we are all expected to contribute – whether it be as an older player or someone just breaking into the team.”

Team news:

Kent make one change to the squash that travelled to Leicester last week. Batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond comes into contention in place of Calum Haggett.

Kent: Tredwell (C), Key, Northeast, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones (WK), Bell-Drummond, Coles, Shreck, Davies, Shaw

England paceman Jimmy Anderson is included in the hosts’ squad for the clash and is set to play. Kyle Hogg or summer signing Wayne White are the most likely candidates to miss out from the side that faced Worcestershire in their season opener.

Lancashire: Chapple (C), Anderson, Brown, Croft, Cross (WK), Horton, Katich, Kerrigan, Hogg, Prince, Procter, Smith, White