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.[1][2] 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.[3][4]
Sam Billings was the club captain for the first time, having replaced Sam Northeast in January 2018.[5][6][7] 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.[8] Clifford's interim replacement, Ben Green, had previously worked at the ECB, Surrey and at the All England Club at Wimbledon.[9] 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.[10][11]
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 sides broke down,[8] with Kent reluctantly allowing Northeast permission to speak to other sides.[16][17][18][19]
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 side.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22]
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.[23][24] 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.[25][26] 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.[27][28][29]
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.[30][31] Milne was available for the entire competition with Stoinis was available for Kent's final nine matches in the competition.[30]
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.[32][33] 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.[33] 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.[34]
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.[35] 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.[36][37]
Kent competed in the 2017–18 Regional Super50, a List A tournament that is part of the West Indian domestic season, after accepting an invitation from the West Indies Cricket Board.[38] This was the second consecutive year that the county competed in the competition which ran from 30 January to 24 February. In the absence of club captain Sam Billings who was with the England cricket team in Australia and New Zealand, the side was captained by Joe Denly and, in Denly's absence at the end of the tour, Will Gidman.[39][40] Head coach Matt Walker was also working with the England T20 team and assistant coach Allan Donald and Second XI coach Min Patel led the tour.[40][8]
Kent were drawn in Group B and played two matches against each of the other teams in the group: Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands and the United States. All of the county's matches took place on Antigua.[41] After a loss against Guyana in their opening fixture,[42] good team bowling performances and half centuries from Alex Blake and, in the next match, Zak Crawley, saw Kent beat both Jamaica and the Leeward Islands.[43][44][45][46] Crawley's score of 99 not out was his highest List A score in only his fourth match, with the match ending in controversial circumstances with the opposing Leeward Islands bowling wide balls in what was seen by some as an attempt to deny Crawley the opportunity to reach his century.[47]
In the following match Joe Denly's score of 96 and three wickets for Adam Riley led Kent to victory over the United States[48][49] before a fine bowling performance, including career best figures of 4/20 from Will Gidman, allowed Kent to dismiss Guyana for 158 and earn a bonus point victory.[50] A loss despite an unbeaten century from Daniel Bell-Drummond, who added 135 runs with Adam Rouse for the fifth wicket, in a close game against Jamaica followed[51][52] before Kent defeated the US in a low scoring game.[53] A win against the Leeward Islands in the final match of the group stage featured half-centuries from Bell-Drummond and Sean Dickson and four wickets from Adam Riley. The win, in a rain affected match which saw the Leewards being set 40 runs to win from seven balls after a rain delay in their innings reduced the number of overs allowed to 42, saw Kent qualify for the semi-finals, finishing second in the group behind Guyana.[54][55][56]
The semi-final was also affected by rain. Barbados scored 263/3 batting first, with West Indian international Kraigg Brathwaite scoring an unbeaten century. Kent's reply was interrupted by rain on four occasions and the innings was eventually restricted to 43 overs, leaving 37 runs needed from 15 balls after the final rain delay.[57][58][59] Despite a half-century from Sean Dickson and a 64 run partnership for the fourth wicket between Dickson and Adam Rouse, Kent could only score 216/8, losing by 13 runs to the defending champions in the competition who were described as "talented"[57] and as "probably the strongest side in the Caribbean".[8]
Group B
Kent finished in second place in group B behind Guyana. They qualified for the semi-final stage of the qualification.
Points: Guyana 4, Kent 0 ME Claydon recorded his best List A bowling figures with 5/31[61] Z Crawley recorded his highest List A score with 60 runs[61] IAA Thomas recorded his highest List A score with 6 runs.
Points: Kent 4, USA 0 G Stewart recorded his highest score in List A cricket with 44 runs Imran Qayyum recorded his best List A bowling figures with 4/33[65]
Rain during the Kent innings reduced the innings to 43 overs with a target of 230 runs to win
Barbados advanced to the final
County Championship
Kent finished second in Division Two of the County Championship and were promoted to Division One for the 2019 season. They won 10 matches, which was more wins than any other team in the division, drew one and lost three, but were beaten in their final match of the season by Warwickshire who won the division as a result. The two teams had started the final match equal on points.
The county played 14 Championship matches in 2018, seven at home and seven at away grounds. Kent's opening fixture was at home against Gloucestershire, starting on 13 April at the St Lawrence Ground. Six of the seven home matches were scheduled to take place at the St Lawrence Ground[67] with one match, against Warwickshire in June, scheduled to take place at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells. This match was confirmed in February after a pre-season inspection of the ground, subject to another inspection before the start of the season.[68] Kent's match at Tunbridge Wells in 2017 almost had to be moved to another ground due to concerns over the maintenance of the ground by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council who own the site.[69][70]
445 (140.1 overs) IR Bell 172 (282 balls) HW Podmore 4/84 (28 overs)
Uncontested toss; Warwickshire chose to field
Points: Kent 19, Warwickshire 3 HW Podmore and JL Denly recorded their best first-class bowling figures with 4/26 and 3/24 respectively. Podmore also recorded his best first-class match figures with 8/110. Z Crawley recorded his highest first-class score with 93 runs in Kent's second innings
Points: Kent 20, Middlesex 3 G Stewart recorded his highest first-class score with 38 runs in Kent's first innings and then again with 103 runs in their second innings. He also achieved his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket (6/21) in Middlesex's first innings, and his best match figures (8/58). Stewart's score of 103 set a new Kent record for the highest score by a number 10 batsman in first-class cricket. The stand of 100 runs for the last wicket between Stewart and IAA Thomas included only one run scored by IAA Thomas, equalling the lowest contribution made in a century partnership in first-class cricket HW Podmore achieved his best first-class bowling figures, and his first five-wicket haul, in the Middlesex second innings (6/36).
Points: Leicestershire 4, Kent 19 OG Robinson made his first-class debut IAA Thomas took his best figures in first-class cricket in Leicestershire's first innings with 4/35 and then took his first five-wicket haul in the second innings, taking 5/90[73] D Klein replaced Z Chappell during Leicestershire's first innings as a concussion replacement after Chappell was hit on the head whilst batting[74]
Points: Derbyshire 5, Kent 23 Z Crawley and MJ Henry recorded their highest first-class scores with 96 and 81 runs respectively in Kent's first innings JL Denly recorded his best bowling figures in first-class cricket with 4/36 in Derbyshire's second innings
Points: Kent 24, Glamorgan 3 Z Crawley recorded his maiden first-class century in Kent's first innings (scoring 168) Kent secured promotion to Division One shortly after this match was completed when Sussex failed to gain maximum batting points in their match against Warwickshire.[77]
Kent began the 2018 English cricket season with a three-day match against Oxford MCC University on 1 April. They played a four-day match against the touring Pakistanis on the same ground at the end of the month.[67] Both matches were draws, each having been hit by poor weather.
Only 33 overs were possible during the match against Oxford MCCU. A wet outfield at the St Lawrence Ground delayed the start of the match but play was possible after lunch on day one with Kent scoring 100/3. Bad light stopped any play after tea on day one and heavy overnight rain made the outfield impossible to play on during days two or three of the match.[78] Joe Denly captained the side for the first time in a home match, becoming the first Kent player born in Canterbury to captain the side in a match in the city.[79]
The match against Pakistan was also drawn after being disrupted by the weather. After bowling out the Pakistanis for 168 in overcast conditions and reaching 39/1 on the first day of the match,[80][81] Kent were unable to bat on either the second or third days due to a combination of bad light and persistent rain.[82] Further play was only possible on the afternoon of the final day, with Kent scoring 209/4 from 64 overs before the match was drawn. Joe Denly scored Kent's first century of the season, making an unbeaten 113, whilst Will Gidman took 5/47 during Pakistan's innings.[83][84]
Bad light stopped play after 15 overs of the final session on day 1. No play was possible on day 2 due to persistent light rain and bad light or on day 3 due to heavy rain. No play was possible before mid-afternoon on day 4 due to a wet outfield.
Royal London One-Day Cup
Kent played in the South group of the 2018 Royal London One-Day Cup, finishing third in the group and qualifying for the quarter-final stage of the competition. They played eight matches in the group stage of the competition, playing once against each of the other teams in the group. Four home matches were split between the St Lawrence Ground and the County Cricket Ground, Beckenham, each of which staged two matches.[67]
Points: Kent 2, Glamorgan 0 JL Denly set a new Kent record for the highest individual score in List A cricket with his 150 not out. The score was also his highest List A score.
The match was reduced to 42 overs a side before the toss due to rain and a wet outfield. Rain halted the match after 16 overs of Kent's innings and no restart was possible.
Points: Kent 2, Surrey 0 Kent's total of 384/8 equalled their record innings total in List A cricket DI Stevens recorded his best List A bowling figures with 6/25
Kent played in the South group of the 2018 Vitality Blast. They played 14 matches, playing each of the other counties in the group at least once. Seven matches during the group stages were played at home grounds, five at the St Lawrence Ground and two at the County Cricket Ground, Beckenham.[67] The county finished second in the group and played a home quarter-final match against Lancashire, losing by six wickets in a repeat of the 2015 quarter-final result between the two teams.
Points: Surrey 0, Kent 2 JL Denly became the first player in professional T20 cricket to take a hat-trick and score a century in the same match[87][88]
Points: Kent 2, Somerset 0 Kent's total included six penalty runs imposed because Somerset did not bowl all of their overs in the allocated time period. The total equalled Kent's highest total in T20 matches Kent progressed to the quarter-finals G Stewart made his Twenty20 debut
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Kent. A club representing the county was first founded in 1842 but Kent teams have played top-class cricket since the early 18th century, and the club has always held first-class status. The current Kent County Cricket Club was formed on 6 December 1870 following the merger of two representative teams. Kent have competed in the County Championship since the official start of the competition in 1890 and have played in every top-level domestic cricket competition in England. The club's limited overs team is called the Kent Spitfires after the Supermarine Spitfire.
Joseph Liam Denly is an English professional cricketer who plays for Kent County Cricket Club. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional leg break bowler who plays as a top-order batsman. Denly played age group cricket for Kent and began his professional career with the county before moving to Middlesex for three seasons between 2012 and 2014. He won the Professional Cricketers' Association Player of the Year award in 2018 and was named the season's Most Valuable Player.
The Nevill Ground is a cricket ground at Royal Tunbridge Wells in the English county of Kent. It is owned by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and is used by Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club in the summer months and by Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club in the winter. It was opened in 1898 and was first used by Kent County Cricket Club in 1901. The county has held the Tunbridge Wells Cricket Week on the ground annually, despite a suffragette arson attack which destroyed the pavilion in 1913.
Sam Alexander Northeast is an English professional cricketer who plays for Glamorgan County Cricket Club. He is a right-handed batsman. Northeast made his senior debut in 2007 and until 2017 played for Kent County Cricket Club. He captained the Kent First XI for most of the 2015 season before being formally appointed as club captain in 2016. He captained the side in 2017 before being replaced before the 2018 season after declining to sign a contract extension committing himself to the club in the longer term.
The County Ground, Beckenham is a cricket ground in Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley. The ground is owned by Leander Sports and Leisure and is used as an outground by Kent County Cricket Club for First XI fixtures, as well as for other matches. As of 2019 the Kent Women cricket team played the majority of their matches at the ground.
Matthew Thomas Coles is an English former professional cricketer. He played as a bowling all-rounder who bowled right-arm fast-medium pace and batted left-handed. He most recently was contracted to Essex County Cricket Club and has represented the England Lions cricket team. Coles played for Kent for two spells either side of spending 18 months at Hampshire in 2014. In 2016 he joined Bangladesh Premier League side Dhaka Dynamites for part of their season.
Mote Park, also known as The Mote, is a cricket ground in Maidstone in the English county of Kent. It is inside the grounds of the Mote Park and is owned by The Mote Cricket Club. The ground is also used by the Mote Squash Club and Maidstone rugby club. It was used by Kent County Cricket Club as one of their out-grounds for county cricket matches. The club played over 200 first-class cricket matches on the ground between 1859 and 2005.
Daniel James Bell-Drummond is an English professional cricketer, who plays for Kent County Cricket Club. He has represented England at youth level and has played for the England Lions cricket team at senior level.
Carlos Ricardo Brathwaite is a cricketer from Barbados and a former captain of the West Indies Twenty20 International (T20I) team. He was a key member of the West Indies team that won the 2016 T20 World Cup, and his most notable innings was when he helped the team to win the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 Final with an innings of 34 not-out off 10 balls. Brathwaite hit the winning six to help the West Indies clinch their second T20 world title.
Harry William Podmore is an English professional cricketer who plays for Glamorgan County Cricket Club. A right-arm medium-fast bowler who bats right-handed, he played youth cricket for Middlesex and made his debut for the county in 2014 before spending time on loan with Glamorgan, Durham and Derbyshire over the next two seasons. He made his first-class cricket debut on 1 May 2016 in the 2016 County Championship and played for Kent between 2018 and 2022; he was awarded his county cap in 2019 and left the county at the end of the 2022 season, moving to Glamorgan.
In 2015, Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division Two of the County Championship, Group B of the 50-over Royal London One-Day Cup and the South Group of the NatWest t20 Blast. The team reached the quarter-finals of both one day competitions but struggled in the County Championship, finishing seventh in Division Two.
In 2016, Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division Two of the County Championship, the Royal London One-Day Cup and the NatWest t20 Blast. The season was the fifth, and last, in charge for head coach Jimmy Adams and the first for new club captain Sam Northeast, who took over from Robert Key at the end of the 2015 season, having captained the side on the field for much of the season.
In 2017, Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division Two of the County Championship, the Royal London One-Day Cup and the NatWest t20 Blast. In addition, before the start of the English cricket season, Kent competed in the 2016–17 Regional Super50, the List A competition of the West Indian domestic season. This was the first time that any English county had competed in an overseas domestic competition. The invitation to take part in the tournament was largely due to the influence of former West Indian captain Jimmy Adams who had been Kent's Head Coach until September 2016.
Oliver George Robinson is a professional cricketer who plays for Durham County Cricket Club. He plays as either a wicket-keeper or as a specialist batsman and made his debut for Kent in 2017.
Grant Stewart is an Italian-Australian professional cricketer who plays for Kent County Cricket Club. He made his first-class cricket debut for Kent in September 2017 in the club's final County Championship match of the season, having signed his first professional contract at the end of August.
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.
Marcus Kevin O'Riordan is an English professional cricketer who plays for Kent County Cricket Club.
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Matthew Walker 
Matt Henry (Championship and One Day Cup)
Carlos Brathwaite (July, T20 only)
Marcus Stoinis (July–August, T20 only)
