Middlesex v Kent

SOUTH AFRICAN all-rounder Justin Kemp flew into England on Monday and looks set to start for Kent in their second Liverpool Victoria Championship match of the season starting at Lord’s this Wednesday.

With Kemp on board captain Rob Key will have more bowling options and has further strengthened his seam attack against Middlesex with the inclusion of Simon Cusden.

Neil Dexter, who made a disappointing start to the season in the innings defeat against Durham, misses out as does Martin Saggers, who is spending time at the ECB Academy in Loughborough in a bid to accelerate his recovery from a heel injury.

Niall O'Brien has recovered from dislocated thumb sustained against Somerset on Sunday and will keep wicket and Amjad Khan also takes his place in the squad after missing the weekend match with a slight hamstring spasm.

Kent squad: Key, Fulton, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Kemp, O'Brien, Patel, Cusden, Joseph, Cook and Khan.

Play is due to get underway on Wednesday at 11am.

* Mark Pennell's first day report will appear here at the close of play.