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All-rounder Darren Stevens reflects on Kent career on 'Stevo Day' as club retire his number three shirt

Darren Stevens says his double century against Lancashire along with his trophy successes are the main highlights of his Kent career - as the club retire his shirt.

Popular all-rounder Stevens is to leave Kent this summer after 18 illustrious years but the 46-year-old intends to keep playing elsewhere.

Darren Stevens with his now-retired number three Kent shirt alongside sons Flynn and Leo and wife Katie. Picture: Max Flego Photography
Darren Stevens with his now-retired number three Kent shirt alongside sons Flynn and Leo and wife Katie. Picture: Max Flego Photography

He went out in style, as well, helping The Spitfires win the Royal London One-Day Cup, beating Lancashire at Trent Bridge in the final in his last-ever Kent appearance.

Stevens also twice helped Kent win the T20 Blast title but fondly remembers his 205 not out against Lancashire in 2013 which ended their unbeaten run as Kent chased down 418 to win by two wickets.

And at a presentation at lunch during day two of their County Championship Division 1 match with Somerset on Tuesday, their last match this season with the day dubbed "Stevo Day", Kent confirmed they will be retiring the number three shirt in recognition of Stevens’ contributions at Canterbury.

“There’s a few. Obviously the trophies are the big ones,” said Stevens, sidelined with a groin injury, on his highlights.

“But I was going through a tough time in 2013 and then that last game against Lancashire stands out for me. We needed 418 and I don’t think they’d lost [before then]. Actually, I thought that was me done and dusted.

Darren Stevens with his now-retired number three Kent shirt. Picture: Max Flego Photography
Darren Stevens with his now-retired number three Kent shirt. Picture: Max Flego Photography

“The trophies are number one but, emotionally and the one that does stand out, is probably that innings against Lancashire. But Keysy [then-captain Rob Key] won the game, really, because he had a broken finger."

Stevens had time to reflect on his Kent career ahead of their Royal London One-Day Cup triumph.

“I’m very emotional. I think it took it more out of me last week. Before the final, there was a lot of thinking time over that week in the build-up to the final,” Stevens said.

“Obviously then, the day was an amazing day. Bringing home the trophy, it just topped it all off.”

Kent’s 50-over success this year backed up their T20 Blast win at Edgbaston last summer, with Stevens also having hit the winning runs at the 2007 T20 Blast final.

“Look, our job as professional cricketers is to win trophies and I have given it all every year for Kent and, at the end of it, I have got three trophies with the club,” said Stevens, who was involved twice when Leicestershire won the County Championship prior to his move to Kent ahead of the 2005 campaign.

“That’s our job. Obviously, I’d have loved to have won more.

“The one that gets me is the [County] Championship, we finished twice a couple of years.

"That’s one I’ll look back on and be a bit disappointed [about] but, obviously, three trophies in the cabinet is nice.”

Kent chairman Simon Philip said: “Darren has represented Kent with so much distinction in his career that has now spanned three decades.

“As shirt numbers were only introduced into the County Championship in 2003, this is an unprecedented honour and richly deserved. Darren has made the number three shirt his own in his time here at Kent.

“Darren has left a powerful legacy, and therefore retiring his number will be a constant reminder of the high esteem in which he is held at the club.”

Kent's players formed a guard of honour ahead of the presentation to Stevens and a special "Stevo Day" celebratory book had been placed inside the Kent shop for members and supporters to write down their favourite Stevens memories.

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