In 2016, Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division Two of the County Championship, the Royal London One-Day Cup and the NatWest t20 Blast. The season was the fifth, and last, in charge for head coach Jimmy Adams and the first for new club captain Sam Northeast, who took over from Rob Key at the end of the 2015 season, having captained the team on the field for much of the season.Sam Northeast: Kent appoint batsman as club captain, BBC Sport website, 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
Sam Billings continued to be selected for England limited overs squads, although he had to settle for only three appearances in 2016. On 21 February, he played in the second of two T20I matches at the end of the South Africa tour, scoring 5 runs in Johannesburg. Billings was selected in England's squad for the 2016 World Twenty20 in India, but did not play during the tournament other than as a substitute fielder.England World T20 squad: Liam Dawson in, Chris Woakes out, BBC Sport website, 10 February 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2017. On 5 July, he featured in the only T20I during Sri Lanka's tour of England. Billings played a single ODI, the final match of three during England's tour of Bangladesh, on 12 October at Chittagong, opening the batting with a useful 62 in a four wicket win.
Sam Northeast won the club's Player of the Year award, having scored over 2,000 runs across all formats for a second successive season.Sam Northeast and Suzie Bates win player of the year 2016, Kent County Cricket Club, 24 September 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
Squad
Departures In October 2015, Kent Cricket Academy graduate and England Under-19 wicket-keeper Ryan Davies left the club, signing for Somerset in search of more regular first XI cricket.Ryan Davies signs for Somerset, Kent County Cricket Club, 6 October 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.Chris Rogers: Somerset sign ex-Australian Test opener for 2016, BBC Sport, 7 October 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2016. All-rounder Ben Harmison was released in February after four seasons with Kent.Ben Harmison leaves Kent, Kent County Cricket Club, 25 February 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.Ben Harmison: Kent release all-rounder, BBC Sport, 16 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016. On 18 April 2016, former captain Rob Key announced his retirement from playing.Rob Key: Kent and former England batsman retires, BBC Sport, 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016. Key had spent his entire career with Kent and captained the team for nine years over two spells. He also represented England at international level, and scored a total of 19,419 first-class runs since his debut in 1998.Rob Key retires, Kent County Cricket Club, 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
Following the end of the season, fast bowlers David Griffiths and Sam Weller were released by Kent, neither having their contracts renewed,David Griffiths: Fast bowler departs Kent after three seasons, BBC Sport, 26 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016. whilst 40-year old all-rounder Darren Stevens signed a new one-year contract to extend his time at the county.Darren Stevens: Kent all-rounder signs new contract, BBC Sport, 13 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016. In October head coach Jimmy Adams also left the county to return to his native Jamaica.Jimmy Adams: Kent head coach leaves after five seasons in charge, BBC Sport, 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016. After his loan spell, Will Gidman signed a permanent contract with Kent in October 2016 having been released by Nottinghamshire.Will Gidman: Kent sign Nottinghamshire all-rounder after loan spell, BBC Sport, 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.Will Gidman signs for Kent following his release by Nottinghamshire, Kent Online, 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
Arrivals Former Hampshire and Gloucestershire wicket-keeper Adam Rouse signed for Kent in January on a two-year contract.Kent sign wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Rouse, Kent County Cricket Club, 18 January 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016. Rouse had previously played for Kent's Second XI in 2014, and returned for a trial in April 2015 as cover for Sam Billings.Kent sign wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Rouse , Kent News, 18 January 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.Adam Rouse: Kent agree deal with wicketkeeper-batsman, BBC Sport website, 18 January 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016. Billings missed almost the first two months of the season due to being drafted by the Delhi Daredevils franchise for the 2016 Indian Premier League season.Indian Premier League: Jos Buttler bought by Mumbai Indians, BBC Sport website, 6 February 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
In February, Kent announced the signing of two overseas players. First the club announced that South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada would have a spell with Kent from late June until the end of July, between international commitments. The young bowler impressed during England's tour of South Africa, which had recently concluded.Kent sign South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, Kent County Cricket Club, 18 February 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.Kagiso Rabada: Kent sign South Africa fast bowler, BBC Sport, 18 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016. A few days later, the club announced the signing of New Zealand international batsman Tom Latham to play in all three competitions during the season.Kent: New Zealand's Tom Latham signs for 2016, BBC Sport, 23 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.Kent sign Tom Latham for 2016 season, Kent County Cricket Club, 23 February 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016. Latham's last match before joining up with his national team for a tour of Zimbabwe was a T20 fixture against Gloucestershire on 8 July. In 2015, the squad had not featured anyone classified as an overseas player.Kent hopeful overseas aces can boost bid for promotion spot, Canterbury Times, 8 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
After Rouse suffered a hand injury in June, and Billings was called into the England T20 squad, former Sussex wicket-keeper Callum Jackson was signed in early July. Kent would otherwise have been without a wicket-keeper in their County Championship match against Essex at the beginning of the month.County Championship: Alastair Cook makes 49 after Essex dismiss Kent, BBC Sport, 3 July 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016. Jackson had played as a substitute wicket-keeper during the Championship match at Glamorgan in June following Rouse's injury.Jackson answers Kent's emergency call, CricInfo, 22 June 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
In late July, Kent announced the signing of Will Gidman from Nottinghamshire on a one-month loan deal. The former Gloucestershire all-rounder had recently returned from injury and would be available for four One-Day Cup games and two County Championship matches.Will Gidman: Kent sign Nottinghamshire all-rounder on loan, BBC Sport, 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016. Captain Sam Northeast stated that Gidman's signing would bolster the team's resources with Calum Haggett and Fabian Cowdrey unavailable through injury.Gidman joins Kent on a Notts loan deal, Cricinfo, 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016. Having impressed during this spell, Gidman's loan deal was extended for the remaining three matches of the season.Gidman loan extended as Kent name unchanged squad v Sussex, Kent County Cricket Club, 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
On 19 August, Kent announced the signing of South Africa international fast-bowler Hardus Viljoen as the overseas player for the final four County Championship matches of the season, with the club citing a number of injuries to bowlers over the course the season as the reason for the signing.Hardus Viljoen: Kent sign South Africa fast bowler, BBC Sport, 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.Kent sign South Africa fast bowler Hardus Viljoen for the final four matches of the Championship season, Kent Online, 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
Squad list Ages given as of the first day of the 2016 County Championship season, 10 April 2016. No. Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes Batsmen4 Rob Key Right-handed Right arm off break Retired 18 April 20166 Joe Denly Right-handed Right arm leg break 10 Alex Blake Left-handed Right arm medium-fast 16 Zak Crawley Right-handed Right arm medium 17 Sam Northeast Right-handed Right arm off break Club captain23 Daniel Bell-Drummond Right-handed Right arm medium 48 Tom Latham Left-handed Right arm medium Overseas signingLeft in mid-July to join the New Zealand team in Zimbabwe.Latham uses 'silly season' to prepare for Africa, CricInfo, 15 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.58 Sean Dickson Right-handed Right arm medium British passport holder All-rounders3 Darren Stevens Right-handed Right arm medium 24 Adam Ball Right-handed Left arm fast-medium 25 Calum Haggett Left-handed Right arm medium-fast 26 Matt Coles Left-handed Right arm fast-medium 30 Fabian Cowdrey Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 42 Will Gidman Left-handed Right arm medium On loan from Nottinghamshire (23 July to the end of the season) Wicket-keepers7 Sam Billings Right-handed — 12 Adam Rouse Right-handed — 21 Callum Jackson Right-handed — Bowlers5 Ivan Thomas Right-handed Right arm medium-fast 8 Mitchell Claydon Left-handed Right arm medium-fast 11 Imran Qayyum Right-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 14 Matt Hunn Right-handed Right arm fast-medium 15 James Tredwell Left-handed Right arm off break 18 David Griffiths Left-handed Right arm fast-medium 19 Sam Weller Right-handed Right arm fast-medium 22 Charlie Hartley Right-handed Right arm medium-fast 27 Hugh Bernard Right-handed Right arm medium-fast 33 Adam Riley Right-handed Right arm off break 52 Kagiso Rabada Left-handed Right arm fast Overseas signing (June–July)77 Hardus Viljoen Right-handed Right arm fast Overseas signing (19 August to the end of the season)
County Championship Kent played 16 County Championship matches in 2016, playing once at home and once away against each of the other eight counties in Division Two. Six home matches were played at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, with one match at both the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells and the County Cricket Ground, Beckenham. The county won five games, drew eight and lost only twice in the Championship, finishing second to Essex County Cricket Club. In previous years a second-place finish would have led to promotion to Division One of the Championship, but 2016 saw a rebalancing of the number of teams in each division and, as a result, only one team was promoted.
Kent's match against Worcestershire at New Road in April was abandoned without a ball bowled due to a water-logged outfield. This match was classed as a draw and five points were awarded to each team.County Championship: Worcestershire-Kent abandoned without a ball being bowled, BBC Sport, 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
Durham, who had finished 4th in Division One, were deducted 48 points by the ECB at the end of the season as a result of their financial problems. This resulted in their relegation to Division Two.Durham relegated to second division after ECB's points deduction, Sky Sports, 4 October 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2017. The ECB announced that Hampshire, who had finished 8th in Division One, would be reprieved from relegation. Kent chairman, George Kennedy, launched an appeal claiming that Kent should be promoted instead of this reprieve for Hampshire given the one-off scenario of the runners-up of Division Two missing out on promotion in 2016.Kent seek legal advice after missing out on promotion, Cricinfo, 3 October 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.Kent contest ECB's decision not to promote them to Division One, Sky Sports, 13 October 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017. The ECB did not change their decision, meaning that Kent will remain in Division Two for the 2017 season.
Division Two
Matches
Other first-class match