‘We have point to prove’
GERAINT JONES admits Kent have to improve on their performances at Canterbury when they return to action against Glamorgan on Wednesday.
The last time Kent tasted LV= County Championship Division 2 action at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, the home team were heckled and booed by supporters as they were skittled for a 31-year low 63 in their second innings of a 10-wicket defeat to Worcestershire.
Kent scored just 222 runs in that match as a whole and only 406 runs in the only previous home game, a seven-wicket humbling by Northamptonshire.
Players have voiced their concerns with the early-season pitches at Canterbury but while Kent have scored just 628 runs in four innings there this term, the fact they have only taken 23 wickets in four innings is more of a concern.
Jones – standing in for captain James Tredwell, who played the final game of England’s one-day series defeat against New Zealand on Wednesday – admitted: “We’ve had a couple of bad results at Canterbury and we have got a point to prove. It feels like we’ve been on the road for ages. It’ll be nice to get home in our own changing room.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a friendly wicket. We just want the best wicket we can get, weather conditions have created some nibblers but the groundsmen want to give us the best they can.”
Rob Key (thigh strain) was back in the side for this week’s championship trip to Hampshire after missing Sunday’s YB40 loss to Northants, while Sam Northeast was recalled to the fourday side after missing the draw with Leicestershire at Tunbridge Wells through illness.
Mark Davies remains out and Jones admitted he thought the paceman might be weeks off after suffering a tear in his left bicep at Sussex 10 days ago. Mike Powell scored a century for the 2nds in their trophy defeat to Middlesex.