Kent furlough squad

Kent Cricket have furloughed most of their playing staff in a further cost-cutting measure.

Captain Sam Billings stays on, after a cut in pay, while Joe Denly, covered under an England Central Contract, will continue to support the club.

The rest of the players will be paid through the Government’s Job Retention Scheme, an emergency measure brought in to help businesses keep their staff employed during the crisis.

This came into effect last Thursday, with players taking what is effectively a 20% pay cut. Last week Kent announced that the majority of their non-playing staff would be furloughed.

Kent’s executive directors have also previously taken a temporary pay cut as part of measures to minimise financial hardship during the Covid-19 crisis.

Kent’s decision follows that of Yorkshire and Worcestershire, who have both already put players on leave because of the crisis – a move now repeated across all the first-class counties.

A Kent statement said: “The announcement follows extensive discussions between first class counties, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA). The status will be reviewed on a regular basis from the beginning of May.

“The club has already announced a number of financial measures to help navigate through this difficult period. These include the furloughing of the majority of non-playing staff and all executive directors voluntarily agreeing to take a temporary 20% pay cut.

“After a number of discussions with the players in recent days, Kent Cricket’s director of cricket Paul Downton and chief executive Simon Storey held a conference call with all players when it was agreed to extend the Government’s Job Retention Scheme to the majority of the playing staff.

“The game-wide agreement between the PCA and ECB, which Kent Cricket have implemented locally, is the equivalent of Kent players taking a 20% reduction in their remuneration whilst they are on furlough leave.”

Billings stays to help “support the club’s efforts in the community” along with Denly.

Director of Cricket Paul Downton said: “Cricket is of course of secondary importance during these unprecedented times.

“The priority of everyone at the club is the safety and security of the entire Kent Cricket family including players.

“This outcome has not been reached lightly and I want to thank all of our players who are standing shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues during the pandemic.”

Kent have confirmed that New Zealand international Matt Henry will no longer be joining them for the first seven County Championship matches of 2020.

Kent director of cricket Paul Downton