As a result of Brexit, the ECB confirmed that all Kolpak contracts would be terminated after the 2020 season.[4] Counties were instead able to field two overseas players in all formats.[5]Heino Kuhn, who had been contracted to Kent under a Kolpak deal, was, as a result, counted as an overseas player for this season.
On 18 September, during the T20 Blast Finals day at Edgbaston, Kent defeated Sussex in the semi-final.[6] In the final, Kent defeated Somerset by 25 runs to win the tournament for a second time.[7] This was the first trophy for the county since winning the 2007 Twenty20 Cup.[8]
Squad
Departures
All-rounder Calum Haggett and bowler Ivan Thomas were both released by the club after their contracts expired at the end of the 2020 season.[9][10]
On 20 May, 27-year-old left-arm spin bowler Imran Qayyum announced his retirement from all cricket due to a shoulder injury.[11] On 20 July, bowler Tim Groenewald retired from professional cricket following ankle surgery in April.[12]
Arrivals
In March 2021, Kent announced the signing of West Indian international fast bowler Miguel Cummins for the first eight matches of the County Championship.[13][14] Zimbabwean born batsman Tawanda Muyeye, who qualifies as a domestic player having been educated at Eastbourne College, signed his first professional contract with the club on 31 March 2021.[15] Muyeye was voted the Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year in the 2020 edition of the almanack.[16]
On 20 April, Kent announced the signing of former Pakistan international fast bowler Mohammad Amir for the second half of the T20 Blast.[17] On 8 June, however, it was confirmed that Amir would be unable to join up with the squad due to rescheduling of the Pakistan Super League and COVID-19-related travel restrictions.[18] New Zealand bowler Adam Milne was announced as a replacement for Amir, with Milne returning for a fourth spell with the county.[19]
On 5 May, following a number of injuries to bowlers, Kent announced the loan signing of New Zealand-born Matt Quinn from Essex for their next four Championship matches.[20] On 16 June, Quinn signed a three-year contract to join the county from 2022 and also rejoined on loan for the remainder of the 2021 season.[21]
On 12 May, Kent announced the signing of Afghanistan leg spin bowler Qais Ahmad for the T20 Blast.[22] On 9 June, Kent signed left-arm spin bowler James Logan on a short-term contract.[23] Logan signed a two-year contract extension on 27 June.[24]
After an unnamed played tested positive for COVID-19, all players who were in the squad for the T20 Blast match against Surrey on 9 July were forced to self-isolate.[25] Kent called up a number of second team players and signed other homegrown players to join the remainder of the senior squad for a Championship game against Sussex; Joe Gordon, Harry Houillon, Dan Lincoln, Jas Singh and Bailey Wightman all made their first-class debuts, and Harry Finch played his first game for Kent against his former team.[26][27] Kent signed three Scotland international players – Calum MacLeod, George Munsey and Safyaan Sharif – to strengthen the squad for the last two matches of the T20 Blast group stage.[28]Elliot Hooper also made his Kent debut in the T20 Blast fixture against Middlesex, having previously played a single first-class game for Sussex.[29] Munsey was also named in the squad for the One-Day Cup.[3]
The County Championship returned in 2021 after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had forced its cancellation in 2020.[32] The tournament was contested in a new format, replacing the two division structure.[33] For the first phase of the tournament, teams were split into three groups of six.[34] Kent were placed in Group 3 where they played ten matches against their opponents on a home and away basis.[35] The top two teams from each group advanced to Division One for the second phase of the competition (where a further four matches will be played), with the other teams progressing to Divisions Two and Three.[36] The team that finished top of Division One would be the county champions; the top two teams from Division One would then contest a five-day match at Lord's for the Bob Willis Trophy.[37]
No play was possible before lunch on day two due to rain. Only 6.2 overs were bowled on day three due to a wet outfield. No play was possible after lunch on day four due to rain.
Due to an unnamed player testing positive for COVID-19, all players involved in the squad for the t20 Blast match against Surrey on 9 July were forced to self-isolate for 10 days, resulting in a number of second XI and other local players being selected for this match.[41][42]
Due to the inaugural season of The Hundred being played at the same time, many of the top county cricketers were unavailable to play in the One-Day Cup. As well as several first-team players, Kent Head Coach Matt Walker was involved in The Hundred as Assistant Coach for the Oval Invincibles.[3]Simon Cook took over as Interim Head Coach, Jack Leaning was named captain, and Ollie Robinson was named vice-captain for the tournament.[3] Leaning was selected by the Trent Rockets as short-term cover for Steven Mullaney, meaning that he would miss games against Sussex and Essex, with Robinson taking over as captain.[46]
Updated to match(es) played on completed. Source: BBC Sport,[49] Cricinfo.[50] Notes:
^Middlesex's match scheduled to play against Gloucestershire (8 August) was cancelled due to COVID-19.[47] As a result, the Group A qualifications were decided on an average points per completed match basis.[48]
