Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Fast bowler Henry agrees to Kent return
New Zealand international Matt Henry will return to Kent next season.
Henry, who initially signed for Kent as an overseas player in 2018, taking 75 wickets in 11 matches to help them win promotion from County Championship Division 2 that year, was due to play for the county in 2020 - but the deal was scrapped because of the coronavirus crisis.
The 29-year-old fast bowler will, though, be back at the Spitfire Ground in 2022, the county have announced.
He is expected to join up with Kent from July 10 for up to seven County Championship matches and for the Royal London Cup.
Henry says he is hoping to lead the county to more glory after they won the T20 Blast competition and County Championship Division 3 this summer.
He said: “I have really good memories of playing for Kent in the past - I’m driven to bring more success to the county in 2022.
“It was fantastic to see Kent win silverware in 2021, and I know that further trophies are the target for everyone at the county next season. “Hopefully, I can have an impact in making that happen.”
Kent director of cricket Paul Downton said: “We’re delighted to welcome Matt back to Kent for the secondhalf of the season.
“We know he will be a great influence on our dressing room and he has regularly shown himself to be a bowler of the highest quality in English conditions.
“He will boost an already strong seam attack for the latter stages of the County Championship run-in and will, I’m sure, play a significant role in the Royal London Cup as we aim to compete strongly across all formats.”
Henry was presented with a county cap by Kent in May 2018.
Kent’s Fred Klaassen has signed an extended deal to remain at the county until 2024.
The 29-year-old left-arm bowler joined Kent in 2019 and played a significant role in their T20 Blast success this year. Klaassen said: “I’m really pleased to remain a Kent player for the foreseeable future and there’s a real sense of positivity around the place here.
“This squad can push on and become a real force across all formats and I’m determined to help make more history for this club.”
Klaassen took 19 wickets in 14 T20 Blast games in 2021.