Key and Claydon back for LV= County Championship v Essex at Tunbridge Wells
Saturday 18th July 2015
Rob Key and Mitch Claydon returns to the LV= County Championship side as Kent welcome Essex to the Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells on Sunday (11am start, gates open at 9am).
The former England Test batsman has recovered from illness to take his place in the squad and Claydon replaces Matt Coles, who is rested after a heavy workload in all formats.
Under 16s enter for free for the LV= match and a good crowd is expected for Ladies' Day on Sunday including La Belle Femme Fashion on the Outfield and local arts and crafts.
The LV= County Championship match is the second of three matches in the Tunbridge Wells Cricket Festival 2015 with a Royal London One-Day Cup match against Essex Eagles to follow next Sunday (26 July).
The fixtures will be fundamental in deciding who wins the Mike Denness Challenge Shield in memory of the former Kent and England opener with 2 points for a LV= victory and a point for T20 and One-Day Cup wins.
Essex lead 2-1 after victory in the LV= opener at Chelmsford and defeat at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in the NatWest T20 Blast with the return fixture on Friday (24 July), sandwiched between the two matches at Tunbridge Wells.
Kent XI:23 Daniel Bell-Drummond, 6 Joe Denly, 4 Rob Key, 17 Sam Northeast, 21 Ben Harmison, 3 Darren Stevens, 20 Sam Billings, 25 Calum Haggett, 15 James Tredwell, 8 Mitch Claydon, 14 Matt Hunn.
Essex squad: Nick Browne (10), Tom Westley (21), Jaik Mickleburgh (32), Ravi Bopara (25), Jesse Ryder (76), Ryan ten Doeschate (27), James Foster (7), Graham Napier (17), David Masters (9), Jamie Porter (44), Reece Topley (6), Ravi Patel.
Kent v Essex statistics:
· Essex have won three and drawn four of their last seven against Kent.
· Kent have won the toss in eight of their last 10 home games against Essex.
· Essex have lost one of their last eight away games (W3 D4).
· Darren Stevens is the only player to score 1,000+ runs and take at least 100 wickets since the start of last season.
· Head-to-head record:185 matches: Kent won 65, Essex won 48, drawn 72.