In 2018, Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division Two of the County Championship, the Royal London One-Day Cup and the 2018 t20 Blast. The county finished second in Division Two of the Championship and were promoted to Division One for the 2019 season. They reached the final of the One-Day Cup. losing to Hampshire at Lord's, and the quarter-final stage of the t20 Blast. In addition, before the start of the English cricket season, Kent competed in the 2017–18 Regional Super50, the List A competition of the West Indies domestic season, reaching the semi-final stage. This was the second time that Kent have competed in the competition, having played in the 2016–17 competition.
The season was the second in charge for head coach, and former player, Matthew Walker and saw the arrival of new assistant coach, former South African fast-bowler Allan Donald. Donald had been expected to join the county at the start of the 2017 season but was denied a work permit as he did not, at the time, hold a suitable coaching qualification.Fordham J (2018) Allan Donald starts role as Kent Cricket assistant coach after being granted UK work permit, Kent Online, 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.Gardner A (2018) Kent reclaim the high ground after a season of 'no grumbling' pays off, CricInfo, 20 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018. Former Kent and England wicket-keeper Paul Downton was appointed as Director of Cricket in January. Downton, who played for Kent between 1977 and 1979, was the managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board from February 2014 until April 2015.Paul Downton: Kent name ex-England wicketkeeper as director of cricket, BBC Sport, 18 January 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.Fordham J (2018) Paul Downton confirmed as Kent's director of cricket, Kent Online, 18 January 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
Sam Billings was the club captain for the first time, having replaced Sam Northeast in January 2018.Hopes D (2018) Billings captaincy will spark scramble for Northeast signing, CricInfo, 17 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.Sam Billings: England limited-overs player replaces Sam Northeast as Kent captain, BBC Sport, 17 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.Fordham J (2018) Hampshire Cricket interested in signing Kent's former captain Sam Northeast, Kent Online, 18 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018. Behind the scenes, chief executive Jamie Clifford departed the club in February 2018 to take up a position at MCC whilst the chairman of the Cricket Committee, former player Graham Johnson, did not seek re-election. Clifford's interim replacement, Ben Green, had previously worked at the ECB, Surrey and at the All England Club at Wimbledon.Fordham J (2018) Kent Cricket's new interim CEO Ben Green believes fans can be optimistic ahead of new season, Kent Online, 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018. In November Simon Storey, who had been Chief Executive of Derbyshire County Cricket Club since 2012, was recruited in the role on a permanent basis, with Green initially taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer before leaving the club the following month.Fordham J (2018) Simon Storey announced as new Kent Cricket CEO, Kent Online, 14 November 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.Fordham J (2018) Kent Cricket interim chief executive Ben Green departs, Kent Online, 4 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
At the end of the season Joe Denly was voted Players' Player of the Year at the Professional Cricketers' Association awards, beating teammate Matt Henry and Surrey batsman Rory Burns. He was also named Vitality Blast Player of the Year player of the year and Royal London One-Day Cup Player of the Year, as well as being included in the Team of the Year.Joe Denly named Players' Player of the Year at PCA awards, BBC Sport, 4 October 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
Squad Departures Adam Ball, Hugh Bernard and Charlie Hartley were released by Kent at the end of the 2017 season.Hoad, Alex (2017). Kent all-rounder Adam Ball and seamer Hugh Bernard set for move away from club, Kent Online, 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.Charlie Hartley to leave Kent, Kent County Cricket Club, 29 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017. Matt Coles also left his home county to join county champions Essex in October 2017.Matt Coles joins County Champions Essex from Kent on a two-year deal, Sky Sports, 28 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
Sam Northeast, who had been club captain for the previous two seasons, left to join Hampshire in February. Northeast had been given permission to speak to other counties after having been replaced as captain in January by Sam Billings. Northeast declined to sign an extended contract with Kent and would have been out of contract at the end of the 2018 season. Kent were unwilling to keep Northeast as captain in the last year of his contract and relations between the two teams broke down,Gardner A (2018) Kent enjoy Caribbean success after difficult winter, ESPN, 21 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018. with Kent reluctantly allowing Northeast permission to speak to other teams.Northeast and Kent at odds over captaincy future, CricInfo, 24 December 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.Tennant I (2018) Sam Northeast signs for Hampshire, CricInfo, 17 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.Sam Northeast: Hampshire sign Kent batsman on a four-year contract, BBC Sport, 19 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.Fordham J (2018) Sam Northeast signs for Hampshire on four-year contract, Kent Online, 19 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
During July all-rounder Will Gidman announced that he would retire as a player at the end of the season with a view to moving into coaching. He had deputised as Kent's Second XI coach whilst Min Patel was working with the England under-19 team.Fordham J (2018) Kent's Will Gidman to retire from playing and move into coaching, Kent Online, 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018. On 17 September, off-spinner James Tredwell announced his retirement from cricket after an 18-year career, having made his debut for Kent in 2000.James Tredwell: Kent and former England off-spinner retires, BBC Sport, 17 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2019. Tredwell represented England in two Tests, 45 One Day Internationals and 17 T20 Internationals. His last competitive appearances for Kent were during the Regional Super50 in Antigua and he had been suffering from a shoulder injury for the whole of the domestic season. The following day, Kent announced that Matt Hunn was to leave the county to pursue a career outside of cricket once his contract expired at the end of the season after five years as a professional.Young quick calls it quits, Kent County Cricket Club, 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
Arrivals South African international Heino Kuhn signed a Kolpak contract with Kent on 7 March, subject to him obtaining a visa. Kuhn, a wicket-keeper batsman, has played four Test matches for South Africa and appeared in seven Twenty20 internationals for his home country.Fordham J (2018) Kent sign South African batsman Heino Kuhn, Kent Online, 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.Heino Kuhn: South Africa batsman joins Kent on Kolpak deal, BBC Sport, 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018. Later the same month the county announced the signing of New Zealand international bowler Matt Henry as their overseas player for the first half of the season. He was originally available for the first seven County Championship matches of the season and the Royal London One-Day Cup competition.Fordham J (2018) Kent sign New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry as an overseas player, Kent Online, 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.Matt Henry: Kent sign New Zealand fast bowler for the first half of the season, BBC Sport, 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018. After performing well and taking 49 Championship wickets, Henry agreed to return to the county for the final five matches of the season in August and September. He was awarded his county cap during his first spell at Canterbury. Seam bowler Harry Podmore was signed to what was reported to be a three-year contract at the start of April, adding to the depth of Kent's bowling attack.Dobell G (2018) Kent move for Middlesex's Podmore, CricInfo, 29 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.Kent sign paceman Harry Podmore, Kent County Cricket Club, 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.Kent Cricket sign Harry Podmore from Middlesex, Kent Online, 3 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and New Zealand bowler Adam Milne were both signed in March to play in the T20 Blast. Milne had played for the team in 2017 in both the T20 competition and the County Championship whilst Stoinis had played five Second XI matches for Kent in 2012 whilst playing league cricket at Peterborough.Kent sign Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and New Zealand paceman Adam Milne, BBC Sport, 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.Stoinis revives old memories with Kent T20 deal, CricInfo, 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018. Milne was available for the entire competition with Stoinis was available for Kent's final nine matches in the competition.
In May Kent added West Indian T20 international captain Carlos Brathwaite to their squad for the first four matches of the T20 Blast, filling the second overseas player spot before the arrival of Stoinis.Carlos Brathwaite; Kent sign West Indies all-rounder for start of T20 Blast, BBC Sport, 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.Billings' Twenty20 links help Kent seal Brathwaite deal, CricInfo, 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018. Brathwaite credited the influence of Kent captain Sam Billings, who he has played alongside in both the Big Bash League and Indian Premier League, in persuading him to sign for the county. On 13 July, after playing three matches, it was announced that Brathwaite had extended his stay for a fifth match, thus filling the second overseas player slot until the arrival of Stoinis.Carlos Brathwaite signs for fifth Blast match, Kent County Cricket Club, 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
In September Kent announced the signing of 24 year-old seam bowler Matt Milnes from Nottinghamshire on a three-year deal beginning at the start of the 2019 season.Matt Milnes: Kent sign Nottinghamshire bowler on three-year deal, BBC Sport, 12 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018. Milnes had played only eight first-class matches, making his Nottinghamshire debut in June, and previously having played for Durham MCCU. On 1 October Kent announced another signing for the 2019 season with Dutch international left-arm fast bowler Fred Klaassen joining on a two-year contract.Kent sign Dutch international paceman, Kent County Cricket Club, 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.Stokes M (2018) Kent head coach Matt Walker admits squad is unlikely to change much over the winter, Kent Online, 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
Squad list Ages given as of the first day of the 2018 County Championship season, 13 April 2018.