Match Preview: Lancashire vs. Kent

Kent return to Vitality County Championship action after their bye week, facing Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.

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Last Time Out

Four of Kent’s bottom-order recorded first-class best scores throughout the match but that wasn’t enough for Kent as they succumbed to reigning County Champions Surrey at The Spitfire Ground.

View video scorecard

The visitors dismissed the hosts for 262 in their second innings, with Dan Worrall taking four for 31 and Cameron Steel, claiming three for 38. Steel remains the leading wicket taker in the country this season, with 20 after three matches.

Joey Evison made 53 and Matt Parkinson hit his highest first-class score of 39, but after a dogged rearguard action that saw them through the morning session, Kent subsided midway through the afternoon on Day Four.

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Opposition Report

• Captain: Keaton Jennings
• Head Coach: Dale Benkenstein
• 2023 finish: Fifth (Division One)
• 2023 highest run scorer: Josh Bohannon (1,257)
• 2023 highest wicket-taker: Tom Bailey (50)

Dale Benkenstein has replaced Glen Chapple as head coach, the ex-South Africa batter moving from Gloucestershire. The Red Rose have pulled off the winter’s eye-catching overseas signing, bringing in Australian off-spin legend Nathan Lyon, initially for a full season before Cricket Australia recently revised his availability to seven matches during the first half of the summer. New Zealand batter Tom Bruce also arrives at Emirates Old Trafford for a full Summer.

Lancashire finished second in all three competitions in 2022, so a fifth-placed finish in last season’s Championship stung. They struggled to get results on flat pitches at Emirates Old Trafford, hence the marquee signing of Lyon. But, after his recent 22-wicket return in the India v England Test series, a lot of focus will be on left-arm spinner Tom Hartley.

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Weather Watch

MANCHESTER WEATHER

Follow Kent Cricket on X to receive live updates on prospects of play should there be any delays.

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Live Match Centre

Every ball of all four days of Lancashire vs. Kent will be shown live on Sky Sports Mix in the UK.

A Live Video Scorecard will be embedded into the Match Center on the Kent Cricket website.

View Match Centre

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Team News

Kent Men’s Head Coach Matt Walker has named a squad of 14 for Kent’s visit to Manchester.

Wes Agar & Nathan Gilchrist both return to the squad after not featuring against Surrey as a precaution. Hamidullah Qadri & Marcus O’Riordan could both feature in the First XI for the first time this season. Multiple first-team players featured for Kent Second XI against Middlesex at Polo Farm in Canterbury this past week.

Matt Parkinson could make his first appearance as an away player at Emirates Old Trafford, following his move to Kent from Lancashire this Winter.

Matt Quinn (back) remains unfit after sustaining injuries during pre-season and is being closely assessed by the Club’s physios. Michael Cohen (stress fracture) has been ruled out of the 2024 season. Tawanda Muyeye has not been selected for this match after captaining the Second XI this week.

Fast bowling all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel will join up with the squad from May 7. He will be available for Kent’s Championship match with Worcestershire onwards. 2023/4 Sheffield Shield winner Charlie Stobo will arrive in Kent from 20 May on an all-format deal that runs until 16 September.

Kent’s Match Squad, presented by Black Opal Travel Group >>>

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Match Previews of Kent’s Vitality County Championship fixtures are proudly sponsored by Bayliss Executive Travel Ltd. >>>