Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Hunn shines against best in the world
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was a thorn in Australia’s side many times during his career. Young Kent quick Matt Hunn grew up looking up to Flintoff and he produced a bowling performance the former Lancashire man would be proud of in the Ashes tour opener at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence. Hunn produced the best bowling figures of his fledgling career against the world champions, taking 5-99 off 27 overs before Michael Clarke’s side declared on 507-8 in their first innings. His scalps, which completed the first five-wicket haul of his First-Class career, included both openers – Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh – Clarke, Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh. The Sandwich Town representative went wicket-less in the second innings, finishing with 0-50 off nine but that wasn’t going to put a damper on what Hunn described as a fantastic four days. Hunn, who was playing his first game of the season and only his fourth First Class game, said: “It doesn’t get any better than taking your first five-wicket haul against the best side in the world. “The fact that I had done it against these guys took a while to believe – it has finally started to sink in.” As for the pick of his wickets, Hunn said: “Going by name order it would have to be Clarke but it wasn’t the way I wanted (caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Sam Billings). “But I would have to say the highlight was the ball I bowled Mitch Marsh with – that was a pretty good one.” But did Hunn, 21, finish the game with the match ball? He said: “No, I didn’t. I completely forgot about it – I was on such a high that it slipped my mind.” Hunn completed a memorable match by scoring the first runs of his First-Class career, 18 not out and 15 not out. He said facing a fired-up Mitchell Johnson was a great experience: “I was certainly on edge before my first ball because he was letting it go. I felt fine after that.”