Stevens signs one-year extension
Saturday 29th August 2020
Kent Cricket is delighted to announce that all-rounder Darren Stevens has signed a one-year extension to his Kent contract.
The right arm seamer has continued his rich vein of form from 2019 into this season, and has taken 20 wickets in the competition so far. His return with the ball includes two successive five-wicket hauls, and he has taken eight more wickets than any other bowler in the Bob Willis Trophy at an average of just 19.00.
Stevens recently passed 800 career wickets during Kent’s tie against Middlesex, ending the match with figures of 5/104. Since joining Kent from Leicestershire in 2005, Stevens has taken 796 wickets at 25.97, as well as scoring 20,860 runs at 34.88.
His career-best score with the bat came in last season’s County Championship tie against Yorkshire at Emerald Headingly, amassing 237 runs, and alongside Sam Billings, recorded a new Kent first-class record for a sixth wicket partnership, putting on 346 with the Kent captain.
A 2007 Twenty20 Cup winner in which he scored the winning runs in the final, Stevens was also a part of the Kent sides that achieved promotion from Division Two of the County Championship three times, as well as a finalist in the One-Day Cup on two occasions.
On extending his Kent tenure, Stevens said: “I’m thrilled to commit another year to Kent. I love playing for this county and it’s no secret that I didn’t want this shortened season to be the way I finished up. So I’m delighted that my recent form has shown I still have a lot left to give to the Club.
“I’m feeling great at the moment and really driven. We have a great squad here at Kent, and it’s definitely an exciting place to be.
“I’d also like to thank the members and supporters for their continued support. We’ve definitely missed them at the ground this year and I look forward to being able to play in front of them again as soon as possible.”
Kent’s Director of Cricket, Paul Downton, said: “ Darren has once again shown himself to be one of our most effective bowlers in first-class cricket this season.
“He has played in all four Bob Willis Trophy matches and proved to us that he is still an integral part of our bowling attack with the red ball.
“His wealth of experience is also invaluable as we continue to build a team capable of winning trophies.”
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