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Kent Spitfires have several selection concerns in lead-up to clash with Northanmptonshire Steelbacks in Yorkshire Bank 40 Group A

Mark Davies
Mark Davies

Kent Spitfires look set to face a selection dilemma as they seek to continue their push for the knockout stages of Yorkshire Bank 40 against Northants on Sunday.

Kent go into the clash – the final action of Tunbridge Wells Festival Week – in second place in Group A after half of their 12 group games but could be without three important players for the visit of fourth-placed Steelbacks.

Sam Northeast missed out on this week’s visit of Leicestershire in the LV= County Championship, Division 2 due to illness while Mark Davies was ruled out with a left bicep injury sustained during Sunday’s one-day defeat against Sussex and could still be sidelined for the start of Wednesday’s championship game at Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

Spinner Adam Riley came into the four-day side in place of skipper James Tredwell – who linked up with the England squad ahead of Friday's ODI with New Zealand – while Calum Haggett replaced player-of-the-year Davies, who claimed 7-67 in last week’s rain-affected championship draw at Essex.

Before joining up with England, Tredwell admitted: “Davies is a big loss, he’s a big player for us, he’s good to have around and we want him fit as soon as possible.

“He made the inroads we needed at Essex and has been in good form so hopefully he’ll get some rehab and be back within a couple of weeks.”

Kent are seeking to make it five wins from seven Group A matches at the Nevill Ground on Sunday (1.45pm) to keep the pressure on leaders Notts Outlaws.

Tredwell said: “We don’t want to look too far ahead. We came out of Monday’s game (an eight-wicket win over the Netherlands) pretty well.

“We are sitting in a reasonable spot and want to go into the next game and get another positive result.”

Geraint Jones, who will skipper the side in Tredwell’s absence, added: “These competitions you want to stay on a winning roll. Hopefully, it will be another wicket our batsmen can prosper on.”

Kent’s next championship opponents Hampshire are mid-table but Jones said: “They’re a decent side, with class players, Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry at the top of the order and a bowling unit with Dave Balcombe. We’re in for a proper game.”

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