Walker: Just another game
Kent Cricket
Head coach Matt Walker admits Kent are preparing to venture into the unknown next week.
The championship will feature its first round of day-night matches, in preparation for England’s first ever day-night Test at home against the West Indies in August.
Kent head to face Division 2 leaders Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge from Monday, with the game starting at 2pm each day and due to finish around 9.30pm.
The conditions are likely to play a big part, with the combination of the pink Dukes ball and the descent of twilight expected to provide bowlers with considerable opportunity to swing the ball.
Notts are boosted by the availability of England duo Stuart Broad and Jake Ball while Sam Billings is back for Kent.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was selected for the opening two games of his four-match stint with Kent, against Durham and at Worcestershire this week and Walker said he was likely to keep his place as New Zealand paceman Adam Milne rests an ankle niggle after the ICC Champions Trophy. Walker said: “It’s new. Most players haven’t played in a game like this before and I certainly haven’t been involved in one.
“We can’t second guess how the game is going to play out because nobody really knows. It’s a new initiative from the ECB and we just have to get on with it. It’s the same for everyone.
“How the pink ball will affect things, how the weather, the conditions at different times – we just don’t know. I think it will probably have to be a case of suck it and see and then it’s down to who adapts to the job the best.”
Walker said Kent planned to hold an evening practice session at the Spitfire Ground on Saturday niht, after the end of the England Lions versus South Africa A game.
He said: “It’s our only real opportunity to do it as we have such a short turnaround between the game at Worcester. We’ll practice with the pink ball and get a bit of a feel for it.
“Nobody knows what might or might not happen so the most important thing is for us to focus on the basics.”
Despite the Notts game looking like potentially the biggest of the season for his side, Walker said he didn’t mind the fact that it will be decided in the unfamiliar conditions.
He said: “We don’t look to much into it. The different ball and conditions isn’t much of an issues. It’s just another game, albeit a tough one.
“Notts are having a great season and are looking strong, churning out results. It would be tough with a pink ball or a red one, at any time of day.
“It might be that the changes might affect them more than us, there is no way of knowing until you’re in the middle of the match.” Two Linton Park teams are through to the Kent regional finals of the National Cup. The under-15s enjoyed a thrilling three-run victory at Chestfield and will face Broadstairs in the final at Polo Farm in Canterbury tomorrow (Friday). Tobey Castle (25) led the recovery from 20-5 before Mardey Castle (34 not out), Harrison Fermor (12) and Tom Rowe (13) lifted them to 119. Abishek Pushpavinothan (1-13) and Fermor (2-16) impressed with the ball as Chestfield fell short. Linton under-13s will take on Canterbury in their final after an eight-wicket victory against Blackheath. Mardey Castle (3-21), Max Butler (3-8) and Henry Bourdillon (2-11) led the way as Blackheath were dismissed for 94. George Taylor hit five fours and a six, retiring on 33, with Fermor and Mardey Castle finishing the game. In the A Star Weald of Kent Junior League, Bearsted under-16s overhauled Hollingbourne’s 155-4 with two balls to spare. Harry Bone (53 retired) and Will Day (43) top scored for Bourne but an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 76 between Isobel Shelley (39 not out) and Harry Slevin (27 not out) saw Bearsted home. In the same age group, Linton Park beat Teston by 62 runs. Linton struggled against Ben Cahlin (3-15) but Charles Curteis (29) led a counter-attack and they closed on 111. Teston were all out for 49, Tobey Castle, Marcus Sinden, Toby Joseph and Max Butler with two wickets each. In the under-13 league, The Mote Red collapsed to 43 all out in reply to Sissinghurst’s 144-4. Linton Park posted 186-4 against Marden, Fermor, Butler and Taylor with unbeaten 30s. Pushpavinothan took 3-9 as Marden reached 53 in reply, Park winners by 133 runs. The under-11 league saw a 90-run victory for unbeaten Marden over Staplehurst, Henry Mundell with 33. Linton Park under-11s beat The Mote by 31 runs with Freddie Taylor (35) and Anthony Karassellos (19) taking the batting honours. Tom Campbell took 3-0 in two overs for Linton.