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Kent working on deal to sign another overseas player who will be available at the start of the 2023 season

Kent are working on a deal to sign another overseas player who will be available at the start of the season.

They revealed Indian international left-arm seam bowler Arshdeep Singh will play red-ball cricket for Matt Walker’s team between June and July, subject to regulatory approval, last Friday.

Kent director of cricket Paul Downton - says they are working hard on another overseas signing. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Kent director of cricket Paul Downton - says they are working hard on another overseas signing. Picture: Barry Goodwin

And while Australian paceman Kane Richardson will play for The Spitfires in their T20 Blast campaign, it appeared South African all-rounder George Linde would be their sole overseas representative at the start of their 2023 campaign.

But Kent director of cricket Paul Downton and head coach Walker have now confirmed they hope to announce another arrival from abroad in the near future.

On 24-year-old Singh, Downton said: “I think he’s a world talent.

“He’s shown it in T20 cricket so far. So part of the reason that he’s coming is because he wants to play in English conditions and he wants to play first-class cricket.

“I had a really good Zoom call with [India head coach] Rahul Dravid with Arshdeep there. It’s clear that India see him as a future Test bowler and they’re right behind the fact he’s coming to play some county cricket.

Head coach Matt Walker. Picture: Keith Gillard
Head coach Matt Walker. Picture: Keith Gillard

“We’re really excited about that - that’ll be in the middle of the summer.

“We haven’t released a name but we hope to be able to announce a name [of another signing] in the next few days, who will come in the early part of the season.

“That’ll be an overseas.”

Walker also said a deal for the as yet unnamed overseas is presently in the pipeline and thinks they can help Kent take enough wickets to win County Championship Division 1 matches alongside their domestic talents, having won just four red-ball games last year.

He said: “Hopefully, in the pipeline, there’s an overseas signing for the start of the summer.

“That’s in negotiations at the moment and then there’s Arshdeep coming in the middle, who’s a very exciting prospect.

“With our domestic seamers, too, they’re getting better all the time.

“All our guys have been away overseas this winter and it’s been really noticeable how I think they’ve come back way ahead of where they were last year. The improvement in all of them is significant.

“We have got some really exciting prospects - Nathan Gilchrist, Grant Stewart and, obviously, we have added Michael Hogan. He has a huge amount of experience.

“There’s not a huge amount of depth but, if we’re smart with how we manage them, then we’ve got a very good chance of taking 20 wickets.

“We also have Hamid Qadri, who’s an exciting young spinner and George Linde. So we’re very comfortable in that department, too.

“If people stay fit and keep improving, then we have a very well-rounded side that can be successful.”

Kent start their season at Canterbury with a four-day fixture which begins on Thursday, April 6, against Northamptonshire.

Before then, they are due to play a three-day friendly at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, against Essex from Wednesday.

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