Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the County Championship...
Fixture: Kent v Lancashire
Venue: The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury
Dates: Thursday, April 22, 2021 - Sunday, April 25, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Lancashire go into the game fresh from a victory over Northamptonshire at Emirates Old Trafford - the 206-run success coming thanks to a late burst from Luke Wood.
The Red Rose are unbeaten in 2021, with a draw in their first match against Sussex preceding the win over Northants.
Kent are still waiting for their first taste of success of the new season. They lost to Yorkshire at the Spitfire Ground last time out, by 200 runs, having drawn with Northamptonshire in the opening match of the campaign.
Who's in form?
Kent's ageless allrounder Darren Stevens has made a century and a fifty from his three knocks so far this season, and has also claimed six wickets.
Lancashire captain Dane Vilas has 239 runs at 79.66 so far this term, but most of those runs came in his 189 against Sussex in round one. Alex Davies has two half-centuries in his three innings to date this season.
Matt Parkinson returned from a long winter in the bio-secure bubbles of Sri Lanka and India to claim match figures of 6 for 88 in his first appearance of the summer last week, including a delivery which has been compared to Shane Warne famous 'Ball of the Century' to dismiss Adam Rossington.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Kent: LDWWD
Lancashire: WDWDD
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 225
Kent wins: 56
Lancashire wins: 90
Draws: 79
Abandoned: 6
What's the team news?
Kent: Bowler Harry Podmore sustained a side strain during the defeat to Yorkshire last week, which head coach Matt Walker has described as "pretty serious", meaning he misses out.
Heino Kuhn has come through an injury concern but Imran Qayyum, Grant Stewart and Tim Groenewald all miss out.
Kent squad: Daniel Bell-Drummond (c), Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Miguel Cummins, Joe Denly, Fred Klaassen, Heino Kuhn, Jack Leaning, Matt Milnes, Ollie Robinson, Darren Stevens
Lancashire: A neck injury means that Australian pacer Jackson Bird, who was meant to be joining the county for a six-game stint starting this round, will not play for the county this season.
Lancashire coach Glen Chapple reckons Luke Wells, who tore his hamstring over the winter, is not far off full fitness. Allrounder Danny Lamb, who was rotated out against Northants, is under consideration again with Chapple backing him to be a "big threat" at Canterbury. James Anderson misses out with a tight calf.
Lancashire squad: Dane Vilas (c), Tom Bailey, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Luke Wells, Luke Wood
Latest Lancashire news: Click here
Who's said what?
Chapple has been pleased with his squad's start to the season but has challenged his players to kick on and reach "another level".
"More big partnerships and conversions of 20s to 70s to hundreds (are needed). A collective bowling unit has been very evident. But even more balls in the right area will take us to that next level."
What's the weather forecast?
Though colder conditions will bookend the game, rain is not predicted for any of the four days of the match meaning we should get a full match.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Canterbury: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Kent will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets: This match is to be played behind closed doors owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Travel: Not applicable owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Prediction?
Lancashire are far from full strength but they have made an encouraging start to a season that presents a credible chance of some red-ball silverware. Kent, meanwhile, have kicked their campaign off in an inauspicious manner and face a tough task to get anything out of this one. Away win.
OTHER MATCH PREVIEWS
Group 1
Worcestershire v Nottinghamshire
Group 2
Group 3
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