Key's chance to shine
Rob Steen provides a preview of Kent for the 2006 season
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Revolving door
Unjustly castigated by Shane Warne - among others - for agreeing to the run-chase from hell, and thus handing the 2005 Championship to Notts (how else could he have revived his own side's flickering ambitions?), David Fulton has been succeeded after three years as club captain by Rob Key, whose place in the Test pecking order - conveniently if ill-deservedly - has slipped since his appointment.
April 5 was a momentous day for Kentish cricket: that was the day Key, Martin Saggers and Min Patel were booked into the studio to record the club's dart at a Top-40 hit, `This Is Our Time'. Commercial director Jon Fordham orchestrated "the march on pop stardom", as the Kent Messenger called it, following an approach from Ryan Edwards, a singer-songwriter probably more familiar with Canterbury NZ than Chaucer's version. "Although Ryan is originally from New Zealand," Fordham explained, "the lyrics very much related to Kent."
Meaty middle-order, two potent South African allrounders in the returning Justin Kemp and Andrew Hall, and Min Patel's bornagain left-arm tweakers.
Martin Saggers' bone structure; lack of new-ball zip; dearth of compelling spin options.
Key makes opposing bowlers pay for his frustrations, Darren Stevens maintains his inspiring renaissance, youngsters Simon Cusden and David Stiff come to the party, and Kemp and Hall atone for last year's early exit by driving the side to the Twenty20 Cup and Pro40 League promotion.
Saggers and Patel feel their age, rumours about Kemp needing shoulder surgery prove well founded and no regular opening pair emerges.
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David Stiff.
Darren Stevens.
Enough very good players to be in contention but off-field problems seem to have dogged the team. Will be fascinating to see how captaincy affects Key, undoubtedly a fine batsman, and whether he can bring a renewed sense of unity and purpose. If Kemp and Hall play the majority, Kent should enjoy a good one-day season.
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