Players’ Winters: January 2021

As we head into 2021, Kent’s first team stars are ramping up preparations for what will be another exciting Summer of cricket.

With the County Championship and Royal London Cup set to return alongside the Vitality Blast, Kent’s Men’s side are preparing for a full schedule after a truncated 2020 season.

England vs. Sri Lanka Test series

Zak Crawley and the rest of the England Men’s side have now arrived in Sri Lanka and will begin to train on Tuesday 5th January following a period of quarantine and COVID testing.

Crawley will be looking to further improve his burgeoning reputation in Test cricket, after his 267 against Pakistan at Southampton in September.

England’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka will be shown live on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK.

• 1st Test: 14–18 January 2021, Sri Lanka vs. England, Galle International Stadium, Galle
• 2nd Test: 22–26 January 2021, Sri Lanka vs. England, Galle International Stadium, Galle

Big Bash League

Both Sam Billings and Joe Denly are taking part in the tenth edition of Australia’s premier T20 competition, the KFC Big Bash League.

Billings joins Sydney Thunder, who lifted the Women’s Big Bash League title in December with Kent Women skipper Tammy Beaumont in their ranks, whilst Denly has signed for Brisbane Heat as a replacement for Somerset’s Tom Banton.

The tournament runs up until the BBL Final on Saturday 6th February, with all matches shown live in the UK on BT Sport.

• Thursday 7th January: Hobart Hurricanes vs. Sydney Thunder, Brisbane Heat vs. Melbourne Stars
• Saturday 9th January: Perth Scorchers vs. Sydney Thunder
• Sunday 10th January: Sydney Sixers vs. Brisbane Heat
• Wednesday 13th January: Sydney Thunder vs. Sydney Sixers
• Thursday 14th January: Brisbane Heat vs. Melbourne Renegades
• Monday 18th January: Sydney Thunder vs. Hobart Hurricanes
• Tuesday 19th January: Perth Scorchers vs. Brisbane Heat
• Thursday 21st January: Adelaide Strikers vs. Brisbane Heat
• Friday 22nd January: Sydney Sixers vs. Sydney Thunder
• Saturday 23rd January: Melbourne Renegades vs. Brisbane Heat
• Sunday 24th January: Sydney Thunder vs. Adelaide Strikers
• Monday 25th January: Adelaide Strikers vs. Sydney Thunder
• Tuesday 26th January: Brisbane Heat vs. Perth Scorchers

Overseas cricket

A number of Kent’s stars are also picking up playing time across the Southern Hemisphere in Club, Grade, District and State cricket:

• Hamidullah Qadri: North West University (Potchefstroom, South Africa), Old Edwardians (Johannesburg)
• Nathan Gilchrist: North West University (Potchefstroom)
• Fred Klaassen: Cornwall Cricket Club (Auckland, New Zealand)
• Jordan Cox: Eastern Suburbs (Sydney, Australia)

Pre-season training

Kent’s UK-based players have now begun strength and conditioning work in a COVID-safe environment, before cricket sessions resume from Monday 11th January.

Kent’s Men’s side begin the 2021 season with a trip to Northampton to face Northants from Thursday 8th April.

View Kent’s Group 2 County Championship fixtures >>>

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