Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the opening round of the Vitality Blast...
Fixture: Kent v Hampshire
Venue: The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Start time: 7pm
What’s the lowdown?
Quarter finalists in 2020, Kent beat their 2021 opening round opposition Hampshire comfortably in their one completed meeting last year. Now rebranded as the Hawks (having last used the moniker in 2009) Hampshire will be hoping that a fresh lick of paint will bring improved fortunes – the side finished dead last in the South Group last time out.
An away-day at Canterbury could not come at a sweeter time for the visitors. The Spitfires are without a number of their primary T20 run-scorers with Zak Crawley and Sam Billings both on England duty and Heino Kuhn injured.
Add in the likely unavailability of left-armer Fred Klaassen, who is out of the country on international duty with the Netherlands, and the fact that Mohammad Amir has been ruled out - and replaced by New Zealander Adam Milne - and you have a Kent side which is a long way off full strength. Afghanistan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad is due to be available for the Spitfires’ entire Blast campaign but it remains to be seen whether Matt Walker will hand the 20-year-old a debut this week.
Away with England for much of the last campaign, James Vince leads a side revitalised by the inclusion of Liam Dawson, who missed the entirety of the 2020 Blast through injury, and the signing of Australia batter D’Arcy Short. Though New Zealand allrounder Colin de Grandhomme will only join the squad after the conclusion of the World Test Championship Final, Hampshire boast a competitive outfit this season and will provide a stern test for the depleted home side.
Who’s in form?
Only allrounder James Fuller managed to top 200 runs for Hampshire last year and the Hawks will be hoping that Vince can quickly uncover the form which saw him hit 537 runs at a strike rate of 143.58 in last season’s BBL. Mason Crane’s leg-spin was a rare bright spot for his side last season, with the 24-year-old taking nine wickets whilst going at less than seven runs per over.
Daniel Bell-Drummond was the standout batter in last year’s Blast, topping the national run scoring table with 423 runs whilst striking at 154.94. The only two Kent bowlers to take in excess of ten wickets last term are either unavailable (Klaassen) or retired (Imran Qayyum).
What’s the team news?
Darren Stevens could play his first T20 match for Kent since August 2017 after being named in Daniel Bell-Drummond's 14-man squad. Matt Milnes, Grant Stewart and Harry Podmore also return after missing previous matches through injury, while Fred Klaassen is included in the squad after competing in Netherlands' ODI series against Ireland
However, Kent are without several key players. Sam Billings and Zak Crawley are currently on international duty with England while Tim Groenewald (knee) and Heino Kuhn (calf) are injured. Overseas players Qais Ahmad and Adam Milne (a late replacement for Mohammad Amir) are currently unavailable due to quarantine restrictions.
Squad: Daniel Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Jordan Cox, Joe Denly, Fred Klaassen, Nathan Gilchrist, Jack Leaning, Matt Milnes, Tawanda Muyeye, Marcus O'Riordan, Harry Podmore, Ollie Robinson, Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart
D'Arcy Short could make his debut for Hampshire after being named in the 14-man squad. The Australian is one of two overseas players in the Hawks squad, alongside Kyle Abbott. James Fuller, Scott Currie and white-ball specialist Chris Wood are the other new faces in the squad, replacing Championship trio Cameron Steel, Felix Organ and Keith Barker.
Squad: James Vince, Kyle Abbott, Tom Alsop, James Fuller, Liam Dawson, Ian Holland, Chris Wood, Lewis McManus, D'Arcy Short, Joe Weatherley, Brad Wheal, Sam Northeast, Mason Crane, Scott Currie
Latest Hampshire news: Click here
Head-to-head T20 record
Total matches: 31
Kent wins: 15
Hampshire wins: 14
Tied: 1
Abandoned: 1
No result: 1
What’s the weather forecast?
The weather is set fair for the opening night of the Blast. Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Canterbury: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: All Vitality Blast matches are available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: All Vitality Blast fixtures will be available on BBC Local Radio stations with extensive coverage also on 5 Live Sports Extra.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and updates from every Vitality Blast 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: Tickets are only available for members until the easing of further Covid-19 restrictions on June 21.
Travel
Address: St Lawrence, Old Dover Rd, Canterbury CT1 3NZ
By car: Park & Ride, Old Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3EJ
This car park is situated a 10-15 minute walk or a short bus ride from the ground. The cost is £3.50 per day for a car and up to six passengers.
On matchdays, there is no one-off parking at the ground for spectators. However, there are limited disabled/blue badge parking spaces held in reserve at a daily rate of £15 per day. Parking is available in the ground on day four of the County Championship, subject to capacity.
*please check latest access information with the club given Covid-19 restrictions
By Bus: The bus to and from town stops in front of the turnstiles on Old Dover Road. Alternatively, you can use the Park and Ride and Stagecoach services from New Dover Road, which will return you to the Park & Ride car park. Stagecoach buses 15, 16 and 17 will be available from 7.30pm until 11.30pm with a valid park & ride ticket.
By Train: Canterbury East station is just one mile from the ground, whilst Canterbury West is slightly further at one and a half miles.
Prediction?
With the Spitfires’ bowling stocks ravaged by injury, retirement and unavailability it’s hard to see how they will restrict Hampshire’s run-scoring. Bar a Bell-Drummond worldie, the newly-branded Hawks are favourites to run away with this one. Away win.
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