In 2011, Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division Two of the County Championship, Group A of the 40-over Clydesdale Bank 40 and the South Group of the Friends Life t20. Kent also hosted a Twenty20 match at the St Lawrence Ground against the touring Indians, and a three-day first-class MCC Universities match against Loughborough MCCU, also at the St Lawrence Ground. It was the second and final season in charge for Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace.Joe Denly, Martin van Jaarsveld and coach Paul Farbrace leave Kent, BBC Sport website, 28 September 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2016. The club captain was former England batsman Rob Key who had been club captain since 2006. Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz joined Kent as their overseas player in June,Kent Cricket to sign Wahab Riaz, Kent County Cricket Club, 4 June 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2017. and another fast bowler, South African Charl Langeveldt, signed as Kent's second overseas player for the Friends Life t20 competition only.
Kent finished a very disappointing eighth of nine in Division Two of the County Championship in their first season since relegation from Division One. They won 6 and lost 6 matches in the Clydesdale Bank 40, leaving them in the middle of the final Group A standings (they did not progress to the knock-out stages). Kent did progress to the quarter-final stage of the Friends Life t20 after finishing in 3rd place in the South Group, with the side winning 9 out of 14 completed matches. They lost their quarter final at Grace Road against Leicestershire, in what was a high scoring game, by 3 wickets.Leicestershire reach finals day with stunning chase, Cricinfo, 6 August 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
Squad Fast bowler Amjad Khan left Kent at the end of the 2010 season to join Sussex,Amjad Khan to join Sussex, The Argus, 14 September 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2017. having been at the county since 2001. This, coupled with injuries affecting the remaining bowling unit, lead to Kent making several new signings.
Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz joined Kent as their overseas player in June. Another fast bowler, South African Charl Langeveldt, signed as Kent's second overseas player for the Friends Life t20 competition only (two overseas players were permitted in this tournament). Langeveldt also played a single match in the Clydesdale Bank Pro40 competition against the Netherlands immediately after the conclusion of the Twenty20 group stage. Charlie Shreck signed on loan from Nottinghamshire in early April, but was recalled by his county just a few days later after playing in just one County Championship match.Kent sign Nottinghamshire's Charlie Shreck on loan, BBC Sport, 7 April 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2017.Shreck recalled to Nottinghamshire from Kent loan, BBC Sport, 13 April 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2017. Shreck would later sign for Kent on a permanent contract after being released by Nottinghamshire at the end of the season, and would remain at the club for the next two seasons.Charlie Shreck leaves Nottinghamshire to join Kent, BBC Sport, 6 September 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
South Africa-born Scotland international bowler Dewald Nel left Kent early in the season due to an ongoing back injury.Dewald Nel leaves Kent County Cricket Club, Kent Online, 24 May 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2017. Nel had signed a two-year contract with Kent in March 2010.Kent County Cricket Club sign Scotland bowler Dewald Nel, Kent Online, 29 March 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2017. Former Surrey bowler Neil Saker was on trial with Kent over the winter and played four first-class matches in May due to injuries to several other bowlers. However, he did not win a long-term contract.Neil Saker in line to start for Kent County Cricket Club against Essex in opening LV= County Championship match, Kent Online, 6 April 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2017. Kent signed David Balcombe from Hampshire on loan in early July initially for one month, but the player remained at the county until the end of the season.Hampshire bowler David Balcombe joins Kent on one-month loan deal, Kent Online, 10 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
The squad for 2011 featured a number of young players, including Adam Ball, Sam Billings, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Adam Riley and Ashley Shaw, who all made their first-class debuts during the season.
Fast bowler Robbie Joseph left the club after the end of the season, having debuted for the county in 2004, and would go on to sign for Leicestershire.Kent County Cricket Club confirms Robbie Joseph is to leave the club, Kent County Cricket Club, 2 November 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2017. Joseph would return to the county for a brief spell in 2014.Robbie Joseph: Kent re-sign Antigua-born fast bowler, BBC Sport, 9 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
Kent suffered a double blow at the end of the 2011 season when high-profile players Joe Denly and Martin van Jaarsveld left the county. Van Jaarsveld had initially agreed to join Leicestershire, but later cancelled the deal and instead announced his retirement from county cricket in November 2011, citing fatigue.Martin van Jaarsveld cancels Leicestershire deal and retires, BBC Sport website, 18 November 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2016. Denly signed for Middlesex in order to play Division One cricket and enhance his chances of reviving his international career with England.Joe Denly has signed for Middlesex, Middlesex County Cricket Club, 28 September 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2016. Denly and van Jaarsveld debuted for Kent in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Squad list Ages given as of the first day of the County Championship season, 8 April 2011. Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes BatsmenDaniel Bell-Drummond Right-handed Right arm medium Alex Blake Left-handed Right arm medium-fast Joe Denly Right-handed Right arm leg break James Goodman Right-handed Right arm medium Rob Key Right-handed Right arm off break Club captainSam Northeast Right-handed Right arm off break Chris Piesley Left-handed Right arm off break Martin van Jaarsveld Right-handed Right arm medium / Right arm off break Kolpak player, vice-captain All-roundersAzhar Mahmood Right-handed Right arm fast-medium British citizenAdam Ball Right-handed Left arm fast-medium Matt Coles Left-handed Right arm fast-medium Darren Stevens Right-handed Right arm medium Wicket-keepersSam Billings Right-handed — Geraint Jones Right-handed — BowlersDavid Balcombe Right-handed Right arm medium-fast On loan from Hampshire (9 July to the end of the season)Simon Cook Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Robbie Joseph Right-handed Right arm fast Charl Langeveldt Right-handed Right arm fast-medium Overseas player (June–July; Twenty20 only)Dewald Nel Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Left in May due to injury Adam Riley Right-handed Right arm off break Neil Saker Right-handed Left arm medium Trial contract (April–May)Ashley Shaw Right-handed Left arm fast-medium Charlie Shreck Right-handed Right arm fast-medium On loan from Nottinghamshire (April)James Tredwell Left-handed Right arm off break Wahab Riaz Right-handed Left arm fast Overseas player (June–August)
County Championship
Division Two Team Middlesex (C, P) 16 8 2 0 6 0 50 44 0.0 240Surrey (P) 16 8 4 0 4 0 43 44 0.0 227Northamptonshire 16 7 2 0 7 0 48 45 0.0 226Gloucestershire 16 6 5 0 5 0 41 47 1.0 198Derbyshire 16 5 6 0 5 0 42 44 0.0 181Glamorgan 16 5 6 0 4 0 44 40 1.0 178Essex 16 4 4 0 8 0 29 44 2.0 159Kent 16 5 9 0 2 0 30 42 9.0 149Leicestershire 16 1 11 0 4 0 24 36 0.0 88
Matches
Other first-class match
MCCU match
Clydesdale Bank 40
Group A TeamPldWLTN/RPtsNet R/R Sussex Sharks 12 8 4 0 0 16 +1.070 Middlesex Panthers 12 8 4 0 0 16 +0.213 Derbyshire Falcons 12 6 5 1 0 13 −0.079 Kent Spitfires 12 6 6 0 0 12 −0.017 Netherlands 12 5 5 1 1 12 −0.361 Yorkshire Carnegie 12 5 7 0 0 10 −0.147 Worcestershire Royals 12 2 9 0 1 5 −0.710
Matches
Friends Life t20
South Division
Matches
Quarter-finals
Twenty20 tour match
References
External links Kent home at ESPN cricinfo Kent County Cricket Club official site