Kent’s double boost

KEY DUO BACK FROM INJURY

Kent have been handed a double boost after suffering back-to-back home County Championship Division 1 defeats.

Red-ball captain Jack Leaning and South African all-rounder George Linde are both set to feature for the first time this season when they take on Yorkshire at Headingley from today (Thursday).

Leaning suffered a hamstring injury in the build-up to the season opener at Essex while Linde has been watching on from the sidelines with a groin problem.

All-rounder Grant Stewart has been recalled after a brief loan stint at Sussex following an injury to Australian Jackson Bird (shoulder) in the heavy defeat to Hampshire last week.

Linde can’t wait to get his Kent career under way.

“It’s been pretty good so far, just frustrating that I’ve been injured,” he said.

“It’s one of those things unfortunately. I just can’t wait to get back on the park again.”

While frustrated to not have an opportunity to make an immediate impact, Linde, who arrived in Kent straight after his involvement in the CSA Provincial One-day Challenge competition in his home country ended, accepts a short break from the game may be a blessing in disguise in some ways.

The 30-year-old added: “Maybe in a month or two, I’ll look back and say this break was good for me because I haven’t had a break from cricket really in the last few years.

“At least it’s nice to watch some county cricket. I can see how it is and get the feeling about how they go about it.”

Kent have certainly shown plenty of faith in Linde, who has never played county cricket before. He’s signed an all-format deal until the end of next season.

On how the move came about, Linde said: “My agent told me that Kent were interested and [director of cricket] Paul

Downton was going to give me a call. I had a good chat to him which went pretty well and it’s a good two-year deal so I’m happy to have signed here.

“Hopefully it will be longer Iwanttostayaslongasicanand that’ll be great for myself and for Kent as well, hopefully, if I do well.”

Linde’s highest first-class score is 148 not out while, with the ball, his best figures are 7-29.

Linde, who has played three Test matches, two One-day Internationals and 14 T20 games for South Africa, has been dubbed by Downton as a player capable of being the sort of frontline spinner Kent have not had since James Tredwell retired four years ago.

“For my team back at home I am [a frontline spinner] so I’m pretty used to it,” said Linde, who spoke with pace bowler Wayne Parnell, who played for Kent in 2009, about joining the county.

“Luckily, I can bat as well. So if I don’t bowl well, then I’ve got some back-up at least!”

As he’s watched on, it is perhaps not surprising who has caught the left-hander’s eye at the start of Kent’s summer.

He revealed: “Compo (Ben Compton) has really impressed me! He’s a rock.

“It’s pretty good to see. I think it’s quite inspirational.”