Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Kent sign top Kiwi paceman as replacement for Parnell
‘In terms of exciting prospects, it’s definitely right up there’
Head coach Matt Walker couldn’t hide his excitement at the capture of ‘explosive world star’ and New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne for the second half of Kent’s season.
The 25-year-old is part of the Kiwi squad preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy which begins in England next week but will link up with Kent after his involvement in the competition comes to an end.
He could make his debut in Kent’s Championship game at Worcester on June 19 with their Natwest T20 Blast campaign beginning on July 9.
Walker said: “I’m excited about this one. It’s something we identified, certainly in our T20, to get a bit more potency in our attack.
“The sort of plan we want to take forward in our T20 cricket (is an) explosive and penetrative bowling attack up front and someone that can bowl pretty quickly at the death as well.”
Milne – who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year’s IPL – burst onto the scene with the New Zealand limited overs teams in 2010 but has been hampered by injury in the past two years, which prevented him taking on an overseas role at Essex last season.
Walker added: “He’s an exciting cricketer. He’s a bit of a world star. I know he’s been injured a little bit over recent years so we probably haven’t seen the best of him yet but he’ll be a great addition to our squad.
“Staying with us for the rest of the season gives us a high-class cricketer in championship games as well as T20. We’re lucky and he’s looking forward to playing county cricket.
“In terms of exciting prospects, it’s definitely right up there. He was meant to come over with Essex last year but it didn’t happen due to injury.
“I’d imagine it’s been a frustrating few years for him. He’s keen, ready to come and I hope we see the best of him for Kent.”
Milne said: “I’m delighted to be joining Kent and working with such a talented squad pushing for promotion.
“The county championship is one of the best First-class competitions in the world and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and taking wickets.
“I also can’t wait to experience the atmosphere at The Spitfire Ground in the Natwest T20 Blast.”
Walker said Milne’s arrival will give the club a timely boost and added: “When you have a world-class fast bowler that is going to come to your shores, it will certainly give everyone a lift.
“We saw with Kagiso Rabada last year and Wayne Parnell this year that adding a bit of quality to what we’ve already got gives us that extra confidence for T20 and the back end of the season.”
Kent will seek to return to winning ways in Specsavers Championship Division 2 when they host Sussex at Tunbridge Wells from Friday (11am).
Matt Walker admits Kent will be ‘up against it’ as they try to get back to winning ways in the Championship this week.
A draw at Leicester on Monday brought their Division 2 winning streak to a halt but they remain firmly in the promotion race ahead of the visit of Sussex tomorrow (Friday) to Tunbridge Wells for the 186th First Class match in the town.
The Nevill Ground has proven an unlikely venue for results, with matches in four of the past five years ending in draws.
Wickets have also been at a premium with more than 1,100 runs scored but just 25 wickets taken in last year’s drawn match and 1,059 the previous summer with 28 wickets falling against Essex when Kent posted a record 633-8.
Head coach Walker said: “Tunbridge Wells is always a difficult place to win.
“It’s been tough in recent years to get a result. It’s hard for the bowlers to get something out of the wicket. You’re up against it a little bit.
“Winning the game is the most important thing. It’s a lovely ground, everyone likes playing there, it’s beautiful, there is a real festival feel to it and the opposition like coming there.
“Last year we probably had a moral victory against Sussex, had the best of the draw, but just couldn’t get over the line. We’ve got to make sure we hit them hard from day one this week.”
Kent did win by 226 runs at Hove in April as part of their perfect start to their promotion push and Walker added: “We had a great win there. Not many people expected that outside of our group.
“We outplayed them across the board for four days but they have found a bit of form and have Vernon Philander back.”
In-form all-rounder Darren Stevens – who has 656 competitive runs and 30 wickets so far this summer after his ton at Leicester – said: “We’ve asked for a bit more grass on the wicket so there’s a bit more pace there than has sometimes been the case.”
Walker added: “Hopefully, we’ll have something which suits everybody.
“It’s difficult, club grounds don’t have the attention and facilities to produce proper First Class wickets but as long as there is a bit in it for everybody then we’ll be happy,”
With Kent three points off the top of Division 2, Walker remains upbeat about their prospects, adding: “We could have done nothing more (at Leicester). We’ve come out with four bonus points and the draw.
“With two days of poor weather at the start of this game, it’s difficult to try to manufacture a win from that position.
“To come away with those points in the bank is pleasing. We managed to get full bonus points with the ball and to get 400 from the position we were in at one stage was pleasing.”
He added: “We’ve been good this year at lower order contributions which is pleasing. It’s important. I think good sides do that. You can’t always rely on the top order.”
Walker said he was ‘absolutely’ happy with his side’s position after four games, adding: “We’re not going to win every game, that’s for sure.
“With the weather or whatever, you’re going to have to fight hard and scrap out some good draws.
“It was important that we came out
‘We’ve got to make sure we hit them hard from day one this week’
with the bonus points. If you can do that, then it certainly helps at the end of the season. They are the margins that can take you from not quite in the hunt to getting promoted.
“We had three great wins in the first part and the start of this block we got a good draw with full bonus points.”