So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
Cook recruitment of domestic and overseas players has been pathetic
Kent also need their version of Dr Will Abbott. A ridiculous number of injuries for many years, and it's getting worse, including half of our top 6 today.
Major issues with conditioning, fitness, the medical facilities?
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
Cook recruitment of domestic and overseas players has been pathetic
Let's not make out that all our overseas recruits, in recent years, were fantastic under Downton. George Linde, despite subsequently doing well on the international stage, had to be released and who could forget Miguel Cummins with his 6-622. Times have moved on and the differential has widened.
The other issue is that, in the last few years, we've had to bring in bowlers because our existing cohort are either injured or need a couple of spearheads. International rank bowlers are few and far between because their respective Boards are unwilling to release them for fear of injury and those few that are still at the top of their game command massive fees. They will go the likes of Surrey who even flew in a spinner for one game last season!
I fear that the days of us recruiting someone like Matt Henry are gone.
Kent have suggested a 100 franchise based at an expanded Beckenham.
Something has to happen, as the county is drifting, and to me Canterbury is part of the problem. Not near to the most populous parts of the historic Kent area, and the ground itself is very old fashioned without being especially quaint.
With the cathedral in the background, Lime tree, St Lawrence is the definition of quaint
The cathedral is over a mile from the ground! And the replacement tree isn't on the outfield and has retirement flats behind it.
You can clearly see Canterbury catherdral in the backdrop, in addition its one of the oldest grounds in use, would you say the souless and dull Beckenham is a better option? Canterbury is a much nicer town then Beckenham for starters with a long history and the home of kent cricket
So hard to judge Hollioake in my (completely amateur and unqualified) opinion as it doesn't feel like he's been given the tools he needs, if a large chunk of the players aren't good enough what can he do?
True, but we are way worse than we were under Walker last season with more or less the same side.
We finished third bottom in the Metro table, bottom of the Blast table and bottom in the CC. We won 8/36 matches in total. We've won 9/28 so far this season.
Both seasons have been disastrous but I've countless times given the reasons how and why this has happened. It has nothing to do with the coaches.
Simon Cook has been the director since 2024; surely some of the blame must fall at his hands?
I've also said that Downton saw what was coming and got out at the right time - "No obvious young players coming through, an inability to sign players from other counties that would immediately improve the side, the lack of financial strength to attract top overseas players, the loss of probably one of if, not our best all-rounder of all time, Darren Stevens, Billings edging towards white ball commitments and predators circling for the few worth something that might be persuaded to go."
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
Cook recruitment of domestic and overseas players has been pathetic
Let's not make out that all our overseas recruits, in recent years, were fantastic under Downton. George Linde, despite subsequently doing well on the international stage, had to be released and who could forget Miguel Cummins with his 6-622. Times have moved on and the differential has widened.
The other issue is that, in the last few years, we've had to bring in bowlers because our existing cohort are either injured or need a couple of spearheads. International rank bowlers are few and far between because their respective Boards are unwilling to release them for fear of injury and those few that are still at the top of their game command massive fees. They will go the likes of Surrey who even flew in a spinner for one game last season!
I fear that the days of us recruiting someone like Matt Henry are gone.
True, recruitment for years has been overall really substandard, but this year is the worst I have ever seen, test player Kashif Ali was playing seconds by the time his spell came to an end, Dudgeon has missed the whole season, at least Linde contributed a little
We’ve turned into Leicestershire prior to this season. They’ve turned it round now so maybe we will.
In time we might do. But that will probably depend on the senior pros stepping up and staying fit, the youngsters kicking on and us sourcing overseas players that are within our budget that will be potentially relatively unknown for that reason e.g. two Dudgeons as opposed to one.
We’ve turned into Leicestershire prior to this season. They’ve turned it round now so maybe we will.
In time we might do. But that will probably depend on the senior pros stepping up and staying fit, the youngsters kicking on and us sourcing overseas players that are within our budget that will be potentially relatively unknown for that reason e.g. two Dudgeons as opposed to one.
I wonder how much better off we might have been had Dudgeon stayed fit
Having gone through the last couple of years of " playing the kids" with Sussex the best 2 signings we made were John Simpson and Cheteswar Pujara. Just players that had been there and done it with vast experience to bring on the likes of Tom Haines and James Coles.
Getting the overseas right have been vital and I don't think we've had a dud for a couple of years since Shadab Khan's dreadful Blast stint. McAndrew,Seales,Unadkat,Hughes and Sandhu have all contributed.
(Steve Smith wasn't around long enough to really count!)
We’ve turned into Leicestershire prior to this season. They’ve turned it round now so maybe we will.
In time we might do. But that will probably depend on the senior pros stepping up and staying fit, the youngsters kicking on and us sourcing overseas players that are within our budget that will be potentially relatively unknown for that reason e.g. two Dudgeons as opposed to one.
I wonder how much better off we might have been had Dudgeon stayed fit
A lot I suspect but a bowler, as good as he demonstrated, isn't going to improve the poor technique and shot selection of our established batters that will always be susceptible to a moving ball.
I umpired the Kent Fledglings team against the Qatar national side yesterday at Chestfield. Lovely ground I'd not been to before. Kent included Matt Quinn, Corey Flintoff plus a pick of good KCL players - Ed Taylor, Dylan de Villiers, Brad Reynolds, Tom Davis, Syan from SL&HC, Ranjit from BP, and three Chestfield players. Qatar got 341 in 50 overs, and Kent got halfway, all out for 171. Lovely day and a great time had by all. Qatar play Lordswood today, and another game on Monday both at Polo Farm.
I umpired the Kent Fledglings team against the Qatar national side yesterday at Chestfield. Lovely ground I'd not been to before. Kent included Matt Quinn, Corey Flintoff plus a pick of good KCL players - Ed Taylor, Dylan de Villiers, Brad Reynolds, Tom Davis, Syan from SL&HC, Ranjit from BP, and three Chestfield players. Qatar got 341 in 50 overs, and Kent got halfway, all out for 171. Lovely day and a great time had by all. Qatar play Lordswood today, and another game on Monday both at Polo Farm.
I umpired the Kent Fledglings team against the Qatar national side yesterday at Chestfield. Lovely ground I'd not been to before. Kent included Matt Quinn, Corey Flintoff plus a pick of good KCL players - Ed Taylor, Dylan de Villiers, Brad Reynolds, Tom Davis, Syan from SL&HC, Ranjit from BP, and three Chestfield players. Qatar got 341 in 50 overs, and Kent got halfway, all out for 171. Lovely day and a great time had by all. Qatar play Lordswood today, and another game on Monday both at Polo Farm.
A relative of AB?
No - he is South African though and has been playing for The Mote in the Kent League for the last few years.
There are times when, as a Kent supporter, you have to cling on to what you can while you can. Like seeing Essex smash 417-6 against Surrey,
Didn't know they'd signed Curtis Campher as an overseas , that's a coup for them.
Despite being born in Ashford, Nathan Barnwell, who is the same age as Seb and was one of the fastest in county age group cricket when young and played for the England U19s, has always been at Surrey. He has, seemingly, struggled to make inroads there and one wonders if he ends up being released in which case he would be someone for us to look at in our 2s. He went for 2-112 today off 10 but then more established bowlers went for a lot too.
Good to see the same bitterness towards the Hundred 4 years on, I hope you all wrote to the county board asking for the money to be sent back in protest
Good to see the same bitterness towards the Hundred 4 years on, I hope you all wrote to the county board asking for the money to be sent back in protest
Why would they do that?
If you disagreed with a tax cut for higher earners would you ask your employer to take a bit extra out of your wages if you benefited from it?
Had a good friend of mine play for the MCC not from the Kent connections, he said Qatar was very poor.. disappointing to see Kent contracted players go around the park
I don’t think the crowds at this years ‘Hundred’ justify all the hype. Likewise, the 50 over competition is just a shadow of its former self, and the county programme just feels a right mish-mash. With Kent floundering with what is probably the worst squad in its history, there is really little or no incentive to make the trip to either Canterbury or Beckenham, and I say this as a life member who has not seen any live cricket this summer.
Comments
Imagine the difference if we still had Stevens and had kept Cox and Robinson. Those three alone would have improved us massively. As I've also already said, we have six of our top order missing. By comparison, take a look at Durham's top order in the Metro Bank- Lees, Gay, Rhodes, Bedingham, Ackerman and Robinson. What would they be doing without those players?
https://longlazylewisham.wordpress.com/2025/08/13/when-catford-was-the-home-of-kent-cricket/
Major issues with conditioning, fitness, the medical facilities?
The other issue is that, in the last few years, we've had to bring in bowlers because our existing cohort are either injured or need a couple of spearheads. International rank bowlers are few and far between because their respective Boards are unwilling to release them for fear of injury and those few that are still at the top of their game command massive fees. They will go the likes of Surrey who even flew in a spinner for one game last season!
I fear that the days of us recruiting someone like Matt Henry are gone.
Getting the overseas right have been vital and I don't think we've had a dud for a couple of years since Shadab Khan's dreadful Blast stint. McAndrew,Seales,Unadkat,Hughes and Sandhu have all contributed.
(Steve Smith wasn't around long enough to really count!)
Putting the Kent, Surrey rivalry to one side the 50 over competition used to be a great competition.
Now it's not even worth watching.
5-36 for 19 year old Charlie Bennett is an eye catching return.
If you disagreed with a tax cut for higher earners would you ask your employer to take a bit extra out of your wages if you benefited from it?