Match Preview: Kent Spitfires vs Gloucestershire

The Vitality Blast is BACK for 2023 – and Kent Spitfires kick off their T20 campaign at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence against Gloucestershire.

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Australian international whiteball specialist Kane Richardson is poised to make his debut after arriving in Canterbury last week and is one of the Spitfires’ overseas players alongside South African all-rounder George Linde.

Joe Denly was Kent’s top T20 run scorer in 2022 – his 423 runs helped him earn the Club’s Spitfire One-Day Player of the Season award at the end of the season after a white-ball season that included lifting the One-Day Cup at Trent Bridge last September.

Grant Stewart, who was born in Australia but plays his international cricket with Italy through his family, was the Spitfires’ best socket last year, named at 14.

Match day information

Important matchday information for members, Six Pack Ticket Bundle holders and those who have purchased match tickets can be accessed by clicking the button below:

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We strongly recommend that all members and spectators traveling to the country use public transport.

Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence is located approximately one kilometer from Canterbury’s historic Cathedral City Centre.

See the Spitfire Ground guide

The field opens at 4:30 p.m., first ball at 6:30 p.m., half-time at 7:45 p.m., second innings at 8:00 p.m., the match is scheduled to end at 9:15 p.m.

Buy tickets with confidence in accordance with Kent Cricket’s Wet Weather Policy

We are looking forward to a sunny and dry start to our T20 campaign this year!

However:

See wet weather policy

Live streaming via KentCricketPlay

Kent Cricket is excited to announce the launch of a brand new streaming service,KentCricketPlayfor all non-televised Kent Spitfires home T20 matches in 2023.

The launch of KentCricketPlay for digital hosting of this season’s T20 matches is the first step in creating a stand-alone broadcast platform that will offer enhanced coverage, exclusive content and matchday features.

By registering for an account on a new platformall fans Members and non-members can watch the Kent Spitfires T20 home match against Gloucestershire for FREE on Wednesday 24th May.

Sign up to KentCricketPlay now

Opposition report

• Captain: Jack Taylor
• Foreign players: Grant Roelofsen (South Africa), Zafar Gohar (Pakistan)
• Finals Day Appearances: 3 (2003, 2007, 2020)
• Titles: 0
• 2022 goal: Fifth (Southern Group)
• 2022 Leading Run Scorer: Glenn Phillips (340)
• Best wicket taker of 2022: David Payne (18)

Gloucestershire are a team in transition following the departures of established stars Benny Howell, Ian Cockbain and Ryan Higgins. South African wicketkeeper-batsman Grant Roelofsen has been recruited to help with the over. Pakistani spinner Zafar Gohar has been signed for the duration of the competition.

• The big question: Can Roelofsen replicate the white-ball form that made him a big hit with Essex in the One-Day Cup last year? The 26-year-old South African is a proven top-class player, scoring 355 runs at an average of 59.16 in seven matches and top-scoring with 90 against Yorkshire at Chelmsford in the 50-over competition. His most impressive figures have come in T20 cricket, where he has scored 1,349 runs in 44 innings at 34.58 and a strike rate of 125.37.
• Wildcard watch: Graeme van Buuren – Birmingham Phoenix release, he has the skills to be effective in The Hundred. A serious shoulder injury ruined his T20 campaign in 2022, but the experienced South African all-rounder is back and firing on all cylinders. His skillful left-arm slow bowling and ability to bat anywhere in the top and middle order make him an all-rounder who can handle all kinds of situations.

Gloucestershire’s chances of success depend largely on the ability of emerging Academy products to learn on the job. Benn Wells moved into first-team T20 cricket last year and will be joined by talented young brothers Tom and Ollie Price as they look to establish themselves as effective performers in the Blast.

Team news

Men’s head coach Matt Walker has named a 13-man squad for the Kent Spitfires clash with Gloucestershire.

Australia’s Kane Richardson is in line to make his first-team debut for Kent after his warm-up performance for the Kent Second XI in the T20 last week. Arafat Bhuiyan is also included and could make his career T20 debut. Joey Evison and Michael Hogan could also make their first T20 appearances as Spitfires.

George Linde completes the Spitfires’ two overseas spots in the matchday squad, with white-ball signing Alex Blake in his first Kent squad of the season alongside the returning Joe Denly.

Zak Crawley has now joined England ahead of their Test against Ireland and is unavailable, while Fred Klaassen will not be available for the start of the Vitality Blast due to personal reasons.

Kent’s full Matchday Squad presented by Shepherd Neame >>>

Kent Spitfires matchday squad v Gloucestershire: Sam Billings (captain), Arafat Bhuiyan, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Jordan Cox, Joe Denly, Joey Evison, Michael Hogan, Jack Leaning, George Linde (foreign player), Tawanda Muyeye, Kane Richardson (Overseas player), Grant Stewart.

Next home game

A repeat of the 2021 Vitality Blast final will take place at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence when Somerset visit Canterbury to take on the Kent Spitfires.

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Kents Vitality Blast Fixtures Match Previews are proudly sponsored by Shepherd Neame >>>