Second XI & Academy Season Preview
Saturday 8th April 2023
Kent Second XI will be hoping to get off to a winning start to the season when they play their first friendly of the season away to Sussex Seconds at Hove, starting on Tuesday next week, April 11.
View all Second XI fixtures
Kent Spitfires’ T20 opener for 2023 is against Gloucestershire at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury on Wednesday 24 May – entry to all scheduled T20 home matches is included in Kent Cricket Memberships, on sale now.
Buy T20 tickets now
The playing format for the Second Team this season consists of championship cricket and a T20 competition, with some double headers on the same day, as well as friendlies, some against international opposition. The Second XI no longer have their own 50-over competition in their schedule, and do not play during the month of August when The Hundred, and First team 50-over matches are in progress.
The Second Team’s home fixtures will be played at Polo Farm, Canterbury, and The County Ground, Beckenham, with the first home four day match against local rivals, Surrey Seconds, at the North Kent venue, starting on Monday April 17, and their first T20 home match in this seasons competition sees Sussex Seconds visit Polo Farm, on Tuesday May 16, with two games morning and afternoon.
The Second Eleven, will, as in the past, be a mixture of experienced contracted players, triallists, and some of the county’s talented Academy youngsters.
Kent’s Head of Talent Pathway, Min Patel feels this season’s Academy cohort will be one of the strongest for some time, and they will, on occasions, get the chance to take the step up to playing.
In the Second team, some of the group have already enjoyed that experience. There are eight Academy students and Min is looking to see if any have the talent and commitment to make the progress through to the first team, as fast bowler Jas Singh did last season, and even on to international honours, like many in the past.
“We have some really excellent talented young players coming through the system”, he said “ and it will be a great experience in their learning process and improving their game if they are able to make the step up into the Second Eleven when given the opportunity. It is a big jump from Academy cricket to the next stage of their development”. The eight Academy players this season are Will Harby, Barney Ford, Duncan Moore, Ekansh Singh, Ben Dawkins, Oliver Curtiss, Vish Parakurama, and nephew of Joe, Jaydn Denly.
During the season the Second XI will also have some top quality friendly matches, including hosting the South Asian Cricket Academy, who are playing a number of county sides teams in a mini tour.
They have a three pronged approach to trying to tackle the inequalities in the current professional game. There is a four-day fixture against the SACA starting on Monday June 5, at a venue to be confirmed, and a 50 over match against the same opponents, at the County Ground, Beckenham, on Thursday July 27.
A team from Jersey will again be welcome visitors to the County Ground, Beckenham, for T20 matches on Monday, June 12, and Tuesday June 13. There will also be a 50 Over friendly against Essex Seconds, at Beckenham on Friday, July 28.
So plenty of top class Second XI cricket to see at the two venues and entry is free to all the matches.
By Peter Burrowes
2023 tickets now on sale
Tickets for all matches at Kent Cricket in the 2023 season, including the Vitality Blast, One-Day Cup & LV= Insurance County Championship are on sale now:
Buy tickets now
Kent Spitfires’ T20 opener for 2023 is against Gloucestershire at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury on Wednesday 24 May – entry to all scheduled T20 home matches is included in Kent Cricket Memberships, on sale now.
Members do not need to pre-book their space at T20 matches as per last season – entry will be gained by scanning a valid 2023 Kent Cricket Membership card at the gate.
