Kent bolster seam attack with Michael Cohen signing

Cohen, a former South Africa Under-19 fast bowler, impressed for Western Province before joining Derbyshire, but he was released at the end of the 2022 season

Nick Friend | 08/11/2023 at 14:10

Kent have bolstered their seam-bowling stocks with the signing of Michael Cohen, a year after the left-armer left Derbyshire.

Cohen, a former South Africa Under-19 fast bowler, impressed for Western Province before joining Derbyshire, but he was released at the end of the 2022 season.

He featured for Middlesex in a second-team game this summer and has now been picked up by Kent, who have made boosting their fast-bowling options a priority after a chaotic 2023 in which injuries and unavailability wreaked havoc.

Cohen is the third such signing in a week, following on from the arrival of George Garrett from Warwickshire and confirmation of Wes Agar's return as an overseas player for 2024. Agar was Kent's leading wicket-taker in the County Championship, with 21 scalps. Matt Parkinson has also signed to give Matt Walker's squad a leg-spinner.

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^{Michael Cohen has previous county experience with Derbyshire (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)}

"Michael is a talented young bowler that will provide us with an extra dimension to our collective bowling unit, providing a different challenge for batters with this left-arm pace," said Simon Cook, who was Kent's bowling coach until this winter, when he took on the director-of-cricket post vacated by Paul Downton's retirement.

"This winter, our bowlers will be working hard in becoming a ruthless unit that is capable of consistently taking wickets – both Michael and George [Garrett] will fit nicely into our existing bowling core going into the new season."

Cohen, whose contract is for two years, has 68 first-class wickets to his name at 26.13 apiece from 22 matches.

He said: "Having already spent some time with management and the team, I'm eager to start squad winter training and make the most of this amazing opportunity. Canterbury is a beautiful city and I look forward to making it my home."