Kent County Cricket Club in 2020

Kent County Cricket Club
2020 season
CoachEngland Matthew Walker
CaptainEngland Sam Billings
Ground(s)St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
Bob Willis Trophy2nd, South Group
Vitality BlastQuarter-finals

In 2020 Kent County Cricket Club were scheduled to compete in Division One of the County Championship, the Royal London One-Day Cup and the 2020 t20 Blast. However, the season was heavily disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic, with no county cricket fixtures played until August.[1] For the shortened season, the majority of counties voted on 7 July to play first-class and Twenty20 cricket,[2] with the Royal London One-Day Cup being cancelled.[3] Instead of the County Championship this year, the 18 first-class counties competed for the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy, which consisted of three regional groups of six teams and a final at Lord's.[4]

The season was the fourth in charge for head coach, and former player, Matthew Walker. Former Kent bowler Simon Cook became the new bowling coach after a spell as head coach of the Hong Kong national team, replacing South African Allan Donald who left the county at the end of the previous season.[5][6] Former England all-rounder Michael Yardy joined Kent as the new batting coach in February 2020.[7] Sam Billings retained the club captaincy that he was first awarded in 2018.[8] Billings and vice-captain Joe Denly both spent time away with England squads throughout the season, and so Daniel Bell-Drummond captained the side on several occasions.[9]

The delayed start of the season and the resulting loss of income meant that, like many other counties, Kent decided to cancel contracts for their overseas signings.[10] New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry had been due to return for the first part of the season after a highly successful spell with the county in 2018.[11][12] Meanwhile, Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi had signed to play for the county in the t20 Blast for a second successive year.[13][14]

  1. ^ "Domestic season delayed until 1 August because of coronavirus". BBC Sport. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Counties vote to play red and white ball cricket when season starts on 1 August". BBC Sport. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Counties could be offered opt-out as Hampshire express red-ball reservations". ESPN Cricinfo. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  4. ^ "First-class counties to compete for Bob Willis Trophy". ESPN Cricinfo. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Allan Donald: South Africa Test legend to leave Kent at season's end". BBC Sport. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Cook relishing new role as Bowling Coach". Kent County Cricket Club. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Mike Yardy: Kent appoint former England one-day all-rounder as batting coach". BBC Sport. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Sam Billings: England limited-overs player replaces Sam Northeast as Kent captain". BBC Sport. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Kent batsman Bell-Drummond leads way as Kent tie with Middlesex in Vitality Blast thriller at Lord's". The Times. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Counties remain hopeful of two overseas players for 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Matt Henry: Kent re-sign New Zealand paceman for start of 2020 season". BBC Sport. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Matt Henry: Kent cancel deal for New Zealand pace bowler". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Mohammad Nabi: Afghanistan all-rounder to rejoin Kent for T20 Blast". BBC Sport. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Mohammad Nabi: Kent T20 return cancelled after coronavirus delay". BBC Sport. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.