In 2019 Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division One of the County Championship after gaining promotion in the 2018 season, the Royal London One-Day Cup and the 2019 t20 Blast.
The season was the third in charge for head coach, and former player, Matthew Walker. Sam Billings retained the club captaincy that he was first awarded in 2018.Sam Billings: England limited-overs player replaces Sam Northeast as Kent captain, BBC Sport, 17 January 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019. With Billings and vice-captain Joe Denly playing in the Indian Premier League, which ran until 5 May, Heino Kuhn was announced as interim captain for the early part of the season.Heino Kuhn to stand in as Kent captain in absence of Sam Billings and Joe Denly, Cricinfo, 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019. Following an injury to Billings in April,Webb N (2019) Sam Billings: England batsman dislocates shoulder playing for Kent at Glamorgan, BBC Sport Wales, 25 April 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019. Denly and Kuhn captained the team during the first half of the season, with Kuhn standing in as captain in June and July to allow Denly to focus on his batting following a period of poor form.Hogwood C (2019) Matt Walker reveals Heino Kuhn offered to take over Kent captaincy from Joe Denly, Kent Online, 18 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.Hogwood C (2019) Heino Kuhn to captain Kent against Warwickshire after taking over from Joe Denly, Kent Online, 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
Squad Departures At the end of the 2018 season, and after an 18-year career with Kent, former England off-spinner James Tredwell announced his retirement from cricket.James Tredwell: Kent and former England off-spinner retires, BBC Sport, 17 September 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019. Tredwell represented England in two Tests, 45 One Day Internationals and 17 T20 Internationals. Will Gidman and Matt Hunn also retired from professional cricket when their contracts expired.Fordham J (2018) Kent's Will Gidman to retire from playing and move into coaching, Kent Online, 16 July 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.Young quick calls it quits, Kent County Cricket Club, 18 September 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
Spin bowler Adam Riley left the club by "mutual consent" in June, having played four matches during the season. Riley had joined the club in 2011 and made over 100 appearances for Kent.Adam Riley: Kent off-spinner released by mutual consent, BBC Sport, 25 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019. Veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens was loaned out to Derbyshire for the T20 Blast competition in July. Stevens, who had not played for Kent in the 2018 Blast, was not part of the county's plans for the competition but wanted to play T20 cricket during the season with an eye to maintaining his fitness if required by Kent.Hogwood C (2019) Vitality Blast: Darren Stevens leaves Kent on loan for T20 campaign, Kent Online, 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
In July, it was reported that 43 year-old all-rounder Darren Stevens would not be offered a new contract after the 2019 season.Darren Stevens: Kent all-rounder to leave club after 15 years, BBC Sport, 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019. However, after a string of strong performances featuring a sequence of 445 runs and 34 wickets in five championship matches, including a ten-wicket match haul against Nottinghamshire and a career high score of 237 against Yorkshire, the club made a u-turn and Stevens signed an extension.Darren Stevens: Veteran all-rounder gets contract extended at age of 43 after Kent U-turn, BBC Sport, 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
In September, the club announced that seamer Mitchell Claydon would be leaving after seven years at the end of the season to join Sussex.Mitch Claydon: Kent seamer to leave after seven years for Sussex in 2020, BBC Sport, 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
Arrivals In September 2018, 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 6 March 2019. Milnes had played only eight first-class matches, making his Nottinghamshire debut in June, and previously having played for Durham MCCU. On 1 October 2018, 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 6 March 2019.Stokes M (2018) Kent head coach Matt Walker admits squad is unlikely to change much over the winter, Kent Online, 19 October 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019. In October, Kent awarded a first professional contract to academy graduate wicketkeeper-batsman Jordan Cox.Kent academy youngster Jordan Cox signs first professional contract with the county, Kent Online, 17 October 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
In February, Kent announced the signing of English-born Australian international batsman Matt Renshaw as their overseas player for the early part of the season, making him available for the opening three County Championship matches and the entire Royal London One-Day Cup campaign.Matthew Renshaw: Kent sign Australia batsman for part of 2019, BBC Sport, 8 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019. New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne re-signed to play for the county in the T20 Blast later the same month and Afghanistan's veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was also signed for the first 11 matches of the competition.Adam Milne: Kent re-sign New Zealand bowler for T20 Blast, BBC Sport, 15 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.Mohammad Nabi: Kent sign Afghanistan all-rounder for T20 Blast, BBC Sport, 28 February 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
In May, Kent announced that Wiaan Mulder had signed with the county as the overseas player for seven County Championship matches. The South African all-rounder replaced Matt Renshaw after his stint ended in the middle of May,Wiaan Mulder: South Africa all-rounder set for Kent spell, BBC Sport, 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019. although he was only able to play in three matches before being recalled by South Africa to rest a foot injury ahead of their tour of India.Club statement: Wiaan Mulder, Kent County Cricket Club, 3 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019. On 5 June, Kent announced that South African fast bowler Hardus Viljoen was to rejoin the club for a second spell to play in the T20 Blast.Hardus Viljoen: Kent Spitfires re-sign South African paceman for T20 Blast, BBC Sport, 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019. Viljoen previously had a short spell with Kent at the end of the 2016 season and rejoins as a Kolpak signing.Hardus Viljoen: Kent sign South Africa fast bowler, BBC Sport, 19 August 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2019. On 7 June, Middlesex off-spinner Ollie Rayner joined the county on loan for the last eight County Championship matches of the seasonOllie Rayner: Kent sign Middlesex spinner on loan, BBC Sport, 7 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019. and on 6 August Academy graduate Marcus O'Riordan signed his first professional contract, initially for the remainder of the season.Hogwood C (2019) Kent Cricket sign Marcus O’Riordan to first professional contract, Kent Online, 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.O’Riordan signs professional deal, Kent County Cricket Club, 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019. On 25 August, Kent announced the signing of South Africa captain Faf du Plessis for their remaining two group matches of the T20 Blast, replacing the departed Mohammad Nabi.Kent secure Faf du Plessis deal for Blast run-in, ESPN Cricinfo, 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019. It was later announced that du Plessis would also play in the County Championship match against Yorkshire at Headingley, providing him with some first-class preparation prior to captaining South Africa in their Test series against India.Du Plessis added to squad to face Yorkshire, Kent County Cricket Club, 13 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
Also in August, Kent announced that they had signed Yorkshire all-rounder Jack Leaning on a three-year contract from October 2019.Jack Leaning: Kent sign Yorkshire batsman on three-year contract from 2020, BBC Sport, 24 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019. During their last game of the season, Kent announced the signing of teenage Afghan-born England Under-19 off-spinner Hamidullah Qadri on a three-year deal from the 2020 season.Hamidullah Qadri: Kent sign Derbyshire & England U19 off-spinner on three-year contract, BBC Sport, 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019. Shortly after the same match, Kent announced the signing of 35 year-old seamer Tim Groenewald from Somerset on a two-year deal from 2020.Tim Groenewald: Seamer leaves Somerset to join Kent on two-year deal, BBC Sport, 27 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
Squad list Ages given as of the first day of the 2019 County Championship season, 5 April 2019. No. Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes Batsmen4 Heino Kuhn Right-handed — Kolpak signing6 Joe Denly Right-handed Right arm leg break Vice-captain13 Faf du Plessis Right-handed Right-arm leg-break Overseas player (August–September)10 Alex Blake Left-handed Right arm medium-fast 16 Zak Crawley Right-handed Right arm medium 23 Daniel Bell-Drummond Right-handed Right arm medium 58 Sean Dickson Right-handed Right arm medium British passport holder77 Matt Renshaw Left-handed Right arm off break Overseas player (April–May) All-rounders3 Darren Stevens Right-handed Right arm medium On loan at Derbyshire for T20 matches9 Grant Stewart Right-handed Right arm medium EU passport holder14 Wiaan Mulder Right-handed Right arm medium Overseas player (May–July)25 Calum Haggett Left-handed Right arm medium-fast 55 Marcus O'Riordan Right-handed Right arm off break Signed a professional contract on 6 August77 Mohammad Nabi Right-handed Right arm off break Overseas player; T20 Blast only Wicket-keepers7 Sam Billings Right-handed — Club captain12 Adam Rouse Right-handed — 21 Ollie Robinson Right-handed — 22 Jordan Cox Right-handed — Bowlers1 Harry Podmore Right-handed Right arm medium 2 Ollie Rayner Right-handed Right arm off break On loan from Middlesex5 Ivan Thomas Right-handed Right arm medium-fast 8 Mitchell Claydon Left-handed Right arm medium-fast 11 Imran Qayyum Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 17 Hardus Viljoen Right-handed Right arm fast Kolpak signing, T20 Blast only18 Fred Klaassen Right-handed Left arm medium-fast 20 Adam Milne Right-handed Right arm fast Overseas player; T20 Blast only29 Matt Milnes Right-handed Right arm medium-fast 33 Adam Riley Right-handed Right arm off break Left the club by mutual consent in June
County Championship The season is Kent's first in Division One of the County Championship since 2010. They will play 14 matches, playing each of the seven other teams in the division twice, once at home and once away. Five of the county's home matches will be staged at the St Lawrence Ground, with one match at each of the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells and County Cricket Ground, Beckenham.Fordham J (2018) Kent fixtures for County Championship and One-Day Cup released, Kent Online, 27 November 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
Kent's first match of the season began on 5 April against Somerset at Taunton, although the whole of the first day was lost to rain and a wet outfield.County Championship: Somerset v Kent day one abandoned without play, BBC Sport, 5 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
Division One
Matches
Other first-class match