Kent have confirmed that New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry will not play for them this year.

Henry was set to return to the county, who he played for in 2018, for their first seven County Championship matches this season.

However, with the coronavirus crisis forcing the postponement of the county season till at least May 28, thus wiping away the first seven rounds of the County Championship, both Kent and Henry have decided to cancel his deal.

“Once the decision was announced by the ECB that there would be no cricket until at least the end of May it became inevitable the Matt would not be returning to Kent this season,” said Paul Downton, Kent’s director of cricket.

Henry helped Kent to promotion from Division Two in 2018, taking 75 Championship wickets at average of just 15.48.

“The club continues to enjoy a good relationship with Matt,” added Downton. “He has many friends here and the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received when we announced the he would return in 2020 is a measure of Matt himself: he’s a fantastic person on and off the cricket field.

“We’d like to thank Matt for his understanding in difficult circumstances. Hopefully another opportunity will arise in the near future which will allow him to join us once again.”