Key's chance to shine
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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.
Winter wonderland
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."
Strengths
Meaty middle-order, two potent
South African allrounders in
the returning Justin Kemp and
Andrew Hall, and Min Patel's bornagain
left-arm tweakers.
Weaknesses
Martin Saggers' bone structure;
lack of new-ball zip; dearth of
compelling spin options.
Best-case scenario
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.
Worst-case scenario
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.
Key man
Darren Stevens.
What they say "We can beat any of the top [Championship] sides," says Kemp. "We were unlucky last year when we took massive risks late on because of the weather to force results. The key is to be more consistent across the board. We played badly in one-day cricket and need to make it a priority to improve." Kemp characterises Key as "a straight-shooter ... a very straight guy who will tell the players what he thinks without holding back".
Mark Wagh
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.
Predictions County Championship 5th (D1) Pro40 2nd (D2)
Odds 10/1. Click here for full odds and to place your bet.