Back in Division One of the County Championship after a stellar 2018, can Kent mix it with the big boys in county cricket this year – or are they doomed to go straight back down?
This county cricket 2019 preview was first published in issue 18 of Wisden Cricket Monthly. Subscribe here.
Kent County Cricket Club
Captain: Sam Billings
Last season: CC2: 2/10; RL50: Runners-up; T20: QF
Transfers in: Fred Klaassen (Ned, EU passport), Matt Milnes (Notts), Matthew Renshaw (Aus), Adam Milne (NZ, T20), Mohammad Nabi (Afg, T20)
Transfers out: Will Gidman, Matt Hunn, James Tredwell (all retired)
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Stick on: Darren Stevens
Reliably excellent in limited-overs cricket, the 25-year-old has had two dire seasons against the red ball at a point in his career when he should really be kicking on. Coach Matt Walker is hopeful he will prosper on the truer tracks of Division One.
Prediction
CC1: 8/8; RL50: 5/9 South Group; T20: QF
Kent won a higher percentage of games across all formats than any other county last season but they’ll find the going tougher in Division One, especially with Sam Billings and Joe Denly – captain and vice – at the IPL and possibly on England duty later in the summer. Avoiding the drop would be an impressive achievement.
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