Kent squad in the dark

Kent cricket

Head coach Matt Walker admits Kent are preparing to venture into the unknown next week, writes Alex Hoad. The championship will feature its first round of daynight matches, in preparation for England’s first ever daynight Test at home against the West Indies in August. Kent head to face Division 2 pacesetters 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.”