Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
What happened to Kent’s 2007 T20 Blast winners
1 SAM NORTHEAST - Sam Northeast, now 31, remained at Kent until 2018, becoming club captain in 2016, before he left for Hampshire. Has played for Notts on a red-ball loan deal this summer.
2 JAMES TREDWELL - James Tredwell also remained at Kent until 2018 before he retired from all forms of cricket. Is part of the ECB National Umpires Panel and coaches at Eastbourne College.
3 DARREN STEVENS - Still at Kent some 14 years after the 2007 final, in which he hit the winning runs. The 45-year-old is getting better with age and will hope to play his part at finals day.
4 MIN PATEL - Min Patel remains at Kent as head of talent pathway. he retired from playing in 2008.
5 PAUL FARBRACE - Paul Farbrace is now director of cricket at Warwickshire. He was Kent director of cricket between 2009 and 2011, also having spells coaching England and Sri Lanka.
6 JACK FOLEY - Scorer Jack Foley sadly died at the age of 89 last November. He gave 25 years’ service to the county before he retired at the end of the 2011 season.
7 RYAN MCLAREN - All-rounder Ryan Mclaren had an impact with the ball in the 2007 T20 final against Gloucestershire, ending with figures of 3-22 as he took a hat-trick. He retired in 2019 and lives in his native South Africa.
8 JOE DENLY - Joe Denly, who scored 28 in the final, is back at Kent. He left in 2011 but rejoined for the 2015 campaign.
9 ROB KEY - Then Kent captain Rob Key retired from playing in 2016.
Since ending his playing career, Key has become a popular pundit on Sky Sports.
10 SIMON COOK - Simon Cook remains at Kent although, having played in the 2007 final as a bowler, he is now assistant coach. He was appointed to the role in October 2019. 11 MARTIN VAN JAARSVELD - Martin van Jaarsveld left Kent in 2011. He did sign for Leicestershire in September 2011 but, two months later, he pulled out of that deal and retired from county cricket.
12 MATT WALKER - Top-scoring in the 2007 final, Matt Walker will be hoping for more glory with Kent this year - but this time as head coach. The 47-year-old returned to Kent as assistant coach in 2014 before taking on the head coach role in 2017.
13 SIMON WILLIS - Simon Willis set up and launched the inaugural Kent Cricket Academy in 2003, which has already produced the likes of Joe Denly, Sam Northeast, Alex Blake and Matt Coles. He now runs his own coaching company called Fledglings Cricket.
14 NEIL DEXTER - Neil Dexter stayed at Kent until September 2008 when he left for Middlesex. He went on to play for Leicestershire.
15 GRAHAM FORD - South African Graham Ford was at Kent between 2004 and 2009. He is now Ireland head coach.
16 PAUL DIXEY - Former wicketkeeper and batsman Paul Dixey left Kent in 2010. After spells at Durham MCC University and Leicestershire, he asked to be released from his contract at Grace Road in August 2012.
17 NIMMO REID - Nimmo Reid remains head of Science and Medicine at Kent.
18 GERAINT JONES - Former England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones retired in 2015. He has since trained to become a firefighter and is involved at Ash Cricket Club.
19 YASIR ARAFAT - Yasir Arafat ended with impressive figures of 2-13 in the 2007 final. He also played for Surrey, Lancashire, Somerset and Hampshire but has since retired from the game. 20 LASITH MALINGA - Lasith Malinga’s stay at Kent was brief, joining on a short-term deal in August 2007 - just in time to be involved on finals day for Kent. The Sri Lankan fast bowler went on to enjoy an illustrious career before retiring from franchise cricket this January.