Kent story

[djmaddison8]

Kent reveal new coach

Kent County Cricket Club today announced the arrival of their new coach djmaddison8, who takes over from the disappointing reign of Paul Farbrace. djmaddison8's main aim is clearly going to be promotion to Division 1 of the county championship, although he feels that success in the limited overs tournaments is not out of the squad's grasp. So what does he have to work with?

Daniel Bell-Drummond - age 18, FC matches 4, 147 runs @ 21
Although still a youngster, Bell-Drummond has shown promising form with England Under-19s and will look to establish himself in the first team.

Alex Blake - age 23, FC matches 23, 829 runs @ 21.82
Blake needs a strong season to remain in Kent's plans, having had the excuse of youth to fall back on in previous failures. It remains to be seen whether he will be given opportunities under the new coach.

Fabian Cowdrey - age 19
A complete rookie, Cowdrey's ancestory should stand him in good stead this season with Kent's batting looking weak.

Rob Key - age 32, FC matches 238, 15934 runs @ 41.49
Key's captaincy and experience of cricket at the highest level will undoubtedly prove a major factor in whether Kent can achieve their goal of promotion.

Brendan Nash - age 34, FC matches 86, 4579 runs @ 36.63
West Indian Nash could also have an important roll to play, known as a specialist in the longer format, he will be expected to bat at No. 3.

Sam Northeast - age 22, FC matches 46, 2271 runs @ 27.69
Having been earmarked for England at an early age, this could be Northeast's year. With the departure of Joe Denly to Middlesex and the retirement of Martin van Jaarsveld, there is an openers space he could fill.

Chris Piesley - age 20, FC matches 3, 69 runs @ 13.8
May have to settle for a bit part role as a reserve opener, although opportunities could arise in the shorter formats if Key and Nash are rested.

Mike Powell - age 35, FC matches 212, 12461 runs @ 38.34
A veteran signing from Glamorgan, Powell has been a solid middle order player his entire career and his story may just have one last happy chapter.

Mitchell Duckett - age 19
A last minute signing from the youth team to bolster the batting, Duckett will certainly grab any opportunity he is given with both hands.

Sam Billings - age 20, FC matches 3, 222 runs @ 44.4, 2 dismissals
Like Piesley, Billings' best chance of making an appearance is in the limited overs formats where he can open the batting as well as keeping wicket.

Geraint Jones - age 35, FC matches 159, 7398 runs @ 32.45, 523 dismissals
Kent's number one keeper for many years now, he has also been awarded the vice-captaincy. A useful lower order batsman.

Azhar Mahmood - age 37, FC matches 175, 7654 runs @ 31.89, 609 wickets @ 25.07
Now a limited overs specialist, Azhar will spend the first part of the season in the IPL with Kings XI Punjab. Expect to see him play a major part in Kent's T20 campaign.

Matt Coles - age 21, FC matches 26, 650 runs @ 20.97, 61 wickets @ 35.9
Coles is another Kent youngster tipped for England honours. With a good start to the season, he could join the waiting ranks hoping for an injury to Broad, Anderson et al.

Ben Harmison - age 26, FC matches 37, 1488 runs @ 26.11, 33 wickets @ 34.67
Having never quite achieved the success of his brother Steve at Durham, Harmison will be hoping to be given a sustained run in the team to prove himself.

Darren Stevens - age 35, FC matches 186, 9655 runs @ 33.64, 135 wickets @ 31.62
Another veteran who will need to be handled carefully, he may no longer be able to play every game of the season. A good asset in every format however.

Jamie Dalrymple - age 31, FC matches 135, 6544 runs @ 34.08, 172 wickets @ 43.29
A last minute snap-up by the new coach, Dalrymple will probably compete for a middle order slot with Ben Harmison. He has fallen a long way since his England appearances and this could be his last chance at success.

Adam Ball - age 19, FC matches 9, 15 wickets @ 37.33
Recently named as captain of the national under-19 side, Ball will aim to put pressure on the established seamers and could earn himself a first team spot sooner rather than later.

Simon Cook - age 35, FC matches 139, 341 wickets @ 32.18
Having been beset by injuries throughout his career, Cook will hope his twilight years as a cricketer can bring him success, although his opportunities may be few and far between.

Mark Davies - age 31, FC matches 83, 253 wickets @ 22.63
Another Durham reject hoping for Kent success, Davies could be the signing of the season for Kent. He will surely take the new ball and will hope to show the form that put him close to the England squad in the past.

Ben Kemp - age 18
A complete rookie, he can expect the majority of his games to be in the second team while his future is assessed.

Adam Riley - age 20, FC matches 6, 14 wickets @ 39.07
As a backup spinner to James Tredwell, Riley's opportunities will probably be dictated by pitches and England call-ups. Time is on his side though.

Ashley Shaw - age 20, FC matches 4, 11 wickets @ 36.36
Whatever else can be said about Kent's squad, there is certainly no shortage of young players trying to push their way into the team. The one's who succeed could have long careers ahead of them.

Charlie Shreck - age 34, FC matches 96, 341 wickets @ 30.51
The other half of Kent's latest new ball pairing. Although not the fastest, Shreck's accuracy will give him a big part to play this year.

Ivan Thomas - age 20
Another youth team graduate with both eyes on a first team place. Second team performances will be vital if he is to succeed.

James Tredwell - age 30
Arguably Kent's most experienced and best bowler. It will be interesting to see whether the pitch at Canterbury is tailored to suit him. International call-ups could limit his appearances.

[djmaddison8]

Yorkshire vs Kent



Kent travelled to Headingley for their first match under djmaddison8, with Ben Harmison the unlucky man to miss out from those that travelled.

Rob Key won the toss and elected to make first use of what seems a good pitch, although in slightly cloudy conditions against a new ball attack of Bresnan and Sidebottom, the decision may have been harder than first thought.

[Imager36]

Good luck DJ Maddison. Lots of love for a county story, but the main issue is that there's just so much cricket! Keep it up

[cricfan1]

Can you describe your story some in easy format to Read

[djmaddison8]

Stephens Shines but Yorkshire Rally



Two quick wickets before the second new ball made it an even day at Headingley after Darren Stephens had threatened to dominate.

The day had started off in the worst possible fashion for Kent, as Tim Bresnan accounted for both openers LBW in an opening spell of 6-2-11-2. Mike Powell followed soon after, caught at slip off Moin Ashraf, but Brendan Nash and Stephens saw Kent through to lunch at 113-3 with some attractive strokeplay, especially against Steven Patterson.

Nash had been the more aggressive of the two, and it was he who brought up 50 first, but Stephens followed suit in the next over and Nash became bogged down and eventually succumbed to an improved Patterson. Jamie Dalrymple seemed in aggressive mood as he clobbered his 3rd ball for six and a couple of boundaries later it was tea at 196-4.

Stephens and Dalrymple took advantage of the tiring Bresnan and Sidebottom, who bowled 50 overs between them, with a succession of boundaries. Andrew Gale turned to the spin of Adil Rashid with immediate success and when Sidebottom returned to trap Stephens LBW for 87, Kent were looking shaky. However, an unbeaten 62 between Geraint Jones and Matt Coles, although helped by two dropped catches, sets up an intriguing day's play tomorrow.

[djmaddison8]

Jaques, Bairstow dominate Kent bowlers



An unbeaten partnership of 213 between Phil Jaques and Jonny Bairstow put Yorkshire in the driving seat on a glorious day for batting at Headingley.

Earlier in the day, Kent were dismissed on the stroke of lunch for 374, the last 4 wickets having added nearly 150 runs. Geraint Jones brought up his 50 in the first over of the day with a wonderful lofted drive off Ryan Sidebottom and he was ably assisted by Matt Coles and James Tredwell before Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid wrapped up the tail.

Yorkshire's innings started relatively shakily, with countless plays and misses against Kent's seamers. Jaques was dropped by Darren Stephens before the same fielder reprieved himself by dismissing Andrew Gale off the bowling of Mark Davies. This brought Bairstow to the crease, who looked in brutal form before tea.

The final session was all about Jaques and Bairstow as Kent never looked like taking a wicket. Jaques' innings was all class after tea and he scored quickly all around the wicket, particularly taking a liking to Coles and Charlie Shreck. Bairstow showed more brute force and looked to dominate Tredwell. Kent still lead by 138 but they'll need to show much more accuracy with the ball or they will be out of this match.

[djmaddison8]

15 Wickets Fall on Bowler's Day



Yorkshire reduced Kent to 91-6, a lead of 52, after being dismissed for 413 by a much improved Kent attack.

Kent came out with a definite plan to bowl short in the morning session and neither Phil Jaques nor Jonny Bairstow looked comfortable with it, although it was a full length ball from Matt Coles that did for the latter LBW. Coles continued his assault against Gary Ballance, but with wickets in hand Ballance was able to throw the bat and no edges went to hand. Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck returned to take the new ball and each found success as Jaques lost his off stump and Ballance was LBW.

That left Morne van Wyk and Joe Sayers to rebuild after lunch, and they were doing a good job before Darren Stephens, who can't keep out of this match, delivered a peach of an inswinging yorker to Sayers. What followed was remarkable. Yorkshire lost their remaining 5 wickets for just 22 runs, with Davies finishing with 5-92, and their lead was just 39. Kent's openers couldn't survive until tea however, with both falling to Tim Bresnan for the second time in the match.

Brendan Nash and Mike Powell advanced slowly but with the score on 58, Moin Ashraf removed both Nash and Stephens in the same over. And more was to follow as Powell and Geraint Jones fell to Adil Rashid and Steve Patterson respectively. Jamie Dalrymple was left to dig in with Coles and Kent will hope they can remain for some time in the morning to give them something to bowl at.

[Alrounder80]

Some great detail here but this will take an age for a season to finish. The fixture list is packed and you are doing a day to day update as well. But good stuff though!

[djmaddison8]

Some great detail here but this will take an age for a season to finish. The fixture list is packed and you are doing a day to day update as well. But good stuff though!

True, but I've been playing different versions of this game a long time and always wanted to do one of these stories so now I have some time I'm making the most of it!

[djmaddison8]

Yorkshire Record Comfortable Win



Yorkshire got their promotion campaign off to a winning start whilst Kent were left to wonder what might have been.

In truth, the majority of the damage was done yesterday and Kent's bowlers performed admirably in an attempt to pull off a miracle, first with the bat, then by taking 4 wickets in the chase. When Jamie Dalrymple got himself out to a rash shot early on, Matt Coles was left batting with the tail and comfortably top-scored as he hit boundaries off every bowler he faced. As wickets fell at the other end though, Coles got more and more aggressive and in the end edged to a packed slip cordon.

His effort was all the more remarkable when you saw Yorkshire's chase. On a pitch that had deteriorated drastically, Phil Jaques, who had hit a big hundred in the first inning, struggled immensely and it was almost a mercy when he was run out by a direct hit from Darren Stevens at point. When Andrew Gale edged James Tredwell to the same fielder just before lunch it was 38-2 and Kent sensed a shock.

It was not to be however, as Yorkshire dug in and despite Coles taking the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance, and plenty of false strokes, Yorkshire wrapped up victory by 6 wickets.

[djmaddison8]

Northamptonshire vs Kent



Northamptonshire host Kent in this early season tussle, with the main selection issue being whether Northants can bowl Kent out twice with only 4 bowlers on what looks like a good batting pitch. However, given the way 3 of Kent's top 4 batted against Yorkshire it could be a shrewd decision. Kent have stuck with the same side from that match, still preferring Jamie Dalrymple to Ben Harmison.

Rob Key again won the toss and again chose to bat.

[djmaddison8]

Stevens 99* as Kent Batsmen Dominate



Darren Stevens will spend the night on 99 after failing to get the single to take him to his century but Kent will be happy on a day that 3 of their batsmen passed 50.

Rob Key had started the day in positive fashion having won the toss, despite losing opening partner Sam Northeast early to Jack Brooks. Brendan Nash then lost his off stump to Lee Daggett, but if anything this seemed to encourage more shots from Key, including a leg glance for six off Chaminda Vaas. He brought up 50 fast, but perished just before lunch, LBW to David Willey for 61.

Mike Powell took the baton after lunch, going one better by hitting Brooks for 2 sixes, but Brooks had the last laugh as he removed Powell to a sharp caught and bowled chance before he could reach his half century. Darren Stevens and Jamie Dalrymple came in and batted a little more circumspectly and reached tea at 200-4.

Both batsmen opened up after the interval and at one point looked like they may bat Northants out of the game on the first day, but suddenly the clouds came over and Dalrymple fell to a stunning catch down the legside by wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien. There was still time for Geraint Jones to ensure that Willey was the third bowler from the home side to be hit for six before Stevens' sluggishness in the nervous nineties ensured he will not sleep well tonight!

[benhubbs]

I'm currently in my third season with Kent: It's really REALLY tough going: Most of the youth are not worthy of a first team place in the future, I've finished bottom of T20 & OD in both seasons and was 16/18 in the 2 seasons of CC. Of the original Kent squad, only Key and Davies remain! Their finances are not too bad though, so good contract negoitations in the future can reap rewards!

Bowling sides out is the major problem with Kent, Tredwell rarely gets any wickets, Coles is expensive, Davies is economical but doesn't pick up many wickets and the 4th bowler is always weak (though Stevens / Dalrymple are handy 5th bowler materials).

Have fun with the challenge!

[djmaddison8]

Late Flurry puts Kent on Top



3 wickets from James Tredwell helped give Kent the edge on day 2, although Northants avoided the follow-on.

Earlier in the day Darren Stevens completed his century, after batting out another maiden, before promptly getting out along with his partner Geraint Jones to complete Jack Brooks' 5-wicket haul. Brooks' figures were dented by the tail though, as Tredwell hit an enterprising 34 off 31 balls to ensure a 4th batting point and Matt Coles hit 43 to get Kent over 400.

There was plenty of cloud cover for Kent's seamers and Rob Key set aggressive fields, but Stephen Peters and Kyle Coetzer found scoring seemingly easy and put on 76 in 17 overs before Coles got one through Coetzer's defences. Peters continued on his way with Niall O'Brien, hitting 2 maximums off one Stevens over, although the introduction of spin slowed things down a bit. Stevens returned before tea to remove O'Brien, but Northants had scored 160 runs in the session.

Things were much quieter after the interval as Rob Newton settled in and Peters looked to his century, but Tredwell enticed an edge and sent him on his way for 84, followed swiftly by Newton in the same fashion. Coles continued to look dangerous at the other end, but was expensive and was replaced by Charlie Shreck who trapped Alex Wakely LBW for 5. Tredwell bowled unchanged for the entire session and was rewarded again just before the close as Robert White missed a straight one and was on his way for a 7-ball duck.

[djmaddison8]

I'm currently in my third season with Kent: It's really REALLY tough going: Most of the youth are not worthy of a first team place in the future, I've finished bottom of T20 & OD in both seasons and was 16/18 in the 2 seasons of CC. Of the original Kent squad, only Key and Davies remain! Their finances are not too bad though, so good contract negoitations in the future can reap rewards!

Bowling sides out is the major problem with Kent, Tredwell rarely gets any wickets, Coles is expensive, Davies is economical but doesn't pick up many wickets and the 4th bowler is always weak (though Stevens / Dalrymple are handy 5th bowler materials).

Have fun with the challenge!

Cheers, yes I know from previous editions that it can be frustrating! Tredwell seems to be doing fairly well so far, but Coles is annoying. Seems to create a chance and then get hit for 3 boundaries!