Kent 2024 County Championship Pre-Season Pack
By The Cricket Draft & Meet Thakkar
After showing exceptional levels of grit and fight, Kent somehow found a way to stay in Division 1 in 2024, finishing 8th. They will certainly be looking to have a far more comfortable season this year.
To help create a greater understanding of why they had such a tough season, it has to be recognised that they were severely hampered by huge selection issues throughout. Only four players reached double figures in County Champ appearances & overseas players came and went in a blink of an eye. There were indeed a couple of games where loan signings were announced just prior to games to ensure that they were able to put out competitive XIs. Not ideal.
Kent have been busy in the off season and the addition of Aussies Wes Agar and Xavier Bartlett, alongside Matt Parkinson’s arrival, will ensure they will be far more of a threat with the ball in 2024. Senior batters Compton and Bell-Drummond will be hoping to ‘go big’, supported by exceptionally talented players such as Evison and Muyeye. Kent will be delighted if Crawley is made available at the top of the order far more, to give the bowlers more of a chance of taking 20 wickets, which they struggled to do last year.
It feels as if a more settled Kent will be a far more competitive Kent. Mid-table respectability seems likely.
2023 Season Stat Attack:
- Ben Compton was their highest scorer (18th in Div 1) — 735 runs at 30.62
- Joey Evison was their second highest scorer (32nd in Div 1) — 597 runs at 31.42
- Daniel Bell-Drummond and Zak Crawley were the only batsmen to average over 40 (579 runs at 44.53 and 565 runs at 43.46 respectively)
- Wes Agar (36th in Div 1) was their highest wicket taker, with 21 scalps at 28.33
- Matt Quinn took 21 wickets at 33.09
- New signing Matt Parkinson took 6 wickets at 37.16
- Jack Leaning took the 5th most catches — 19 catches (1.65 per game)
- Finished 8th in Division 1, winning 2 games and losing 7, with 111 points
Kent’s Squad Performance 2023
Signings and Contract News
Early Season Fixtures
Strengths:
- Bringing in Australian quick Xavier Bartlett to bolster a bowling attack that struggled for penetration last year. He boasts an excellent first class record with the ball, averaging 26.39 & a SR of 51 (51 balls per wicket). He is also a handy lower order batter too, with an average of 20.47, and remaining unbeaten in 32% of his innings.
- Zak Crawley’s recent international form. Averaged over 60 in tough Indian conditions and is gradually coming into his own as a Test batsman. Can very quickly take the game away from opposition if he gets set.
Possible Work Ons
- A stable playing XI! They rotated through a plethora of players last year, due to injuries, call ups and performance. They were seemingly unable to play their best available playing XI at any stage of the season and they will be hoping for far more continuity this time round.
Predicted 2024 Starting XI for April
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Zak Crawley, Ben Compton, Tawanda Muyeye, Daniel Bell-Drummond ©, Jack Leaning, Harry Finch (wk), Joey Evison, Xavier Bartlett, Wes Agar, Matt Parkinson, Matt Quinn
Banker/Wildcard/Young Gun:
Banker: Ben Compton (£6-7m)
Will have been disappointed with his returns last year, after an exceptional 2022, but still showed plenty of what he has to offer. He was able to blunt very good opening bowing attacks for long periods of time (batting 1909 balls in 25 innings — 76.36 balls per innings) but just couldn’t quite kick on as he did the previous year. We feel he will be back to his best in 2024!
Wildcard: Xavier Bartlett (£7–8m)
Whilst only present for the first few County Champ games, he has the potential to make a real impact with the ball in April/May conditions for Kent. This makes him a true wildcard as he can run through lineups very quickly on his day (best figures of 7/96), and is also in form from the Sheffield Shield (best figures 5/64, and bowling at a SR of 48.27).
Young Gun: Tawanda Muyeye (£5-6m)
Named Kent’s Emerging Player of the Year in 2023 he scored 571 runs at an average of a smidge over 35 and a SR of 72.73, including his maiden first class ton. It felt as if he really found his feet last year. If he does kicks on, spectators are in for a treat in 2024!
