Match Preview | County Championship | Kent | 29 July - 1 August 2025

Leicestershire are hunting back-to-back away wins in Division Two, as the table-toppers’ latest test sees them head south to Canterbury to take on Kent. It’s a rare trip to The Spitfire Ground, a venue the Foxes haven’t visited since a ten-wicket win in 2018.

Alfonso Thomas’ side “ inspired by Rehan Ahmed’s heroics “ downed Derbyshire by 189 runs last week, extending their advantage to 34 points at the summit.

Kent won their first two Championship matches of the campaign, but have endured a tough time since, sitting at the foot of the table on 92 points. The early squad news has also dealt a blow to the hosts, who will be missing Daniel Bell-Drummond, Chris Benjamin and Joe Denly from their lineup.

Squad:

Just one alteration to the squad which defeated Derbyshire. Fresh from his five-fer for the Second XI, Chris Wright is restored to the travelling group, with Ben Cox rested.

Leicestershire: Ahmed, Budinger, B Green, Handscomb*+, Hill, Holland, Hull, Kimber, Patel, Scriven, Trevaskis, van Beek, Wright.

Last Time We Met:

The sides last faced off in 2021, with Kent taking victory by 10 wickets in a relatively low-scoring affair at Uptonsteel County Ground.

England opener Zak Crawley made 50 in the first innings, before a last-wicket stand of 68 between Jack Leaning (75*) and James Logan (21) bumped the visitors up to 232. Callum Parkinson taking four for 68.

Leicestershire were all out for 109 in reply, and were eventually set a target of 386 after another frustrating final-wicket stand of 62, led by Darren Stevens’ unbeaten 107. The Foxes’ lower order proved stubborn, with Ben Mike (70), Ed Barnes (70*) and Will Davis (42) scrapping hard, but Kent won by 132 runs.

Fox to Watch:

The spotlight in the past week has very much been on Rehan Ahmed, and deservedly so after an astonishing individual display in Derby.

His 13-wicket haul took the leggie’s tally to 20 at an average of just 15.15, buoyed by the incredible control he’s shown this term, yielding an economy rate of 2.48. With the Kookaburra ball offering more assistance for spinners, it could benefit the all-rounder once again for the four days ahead.

Elevated to number three in the side, Ahmed is displaying exemplary maturation game-by-game, hitting four hundreds in a run-laden year for the 20-year-old. With the score on 0/2 inside two overs at The Central Co-op County Ground, his unwavering ability to showcase composure and his natural attacking flair in equal measure evidenced why he’s touted as one of cricket’s hottest prospects.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Speaking of players with four first-class centuries this term, Ben Compton has been in blistering form at the top of the order for Kent.

The 31-year-old is closing in on 1,000 Championship runs for the campaign, sitting on 977 at an average of 51.42, second only to Saif Zaib (1,045) as round 11 arrives.

A gritty opening batter capable of digging in for his side, the Foxes may need to match Compton’s patience if the left-hander settles in at the crease this week.

Follow The Action:

A play-by-play feed will be available via X (@leicsccc), with updates also issued on Facebook (Leicestershire County Cricket Club) and Instagram (@leicsccc). Our Match Centre will be in operation via the Club’s official website.