In 2008, Kent County Cricket Club competed in Division One of the County Championship, the South-East Division of the 50-over Friends Provident Trophy, Division Two of the NatWest Pro40 and the South Division of the Twenty20 Cup. Kent also hosted a three-day first-class match against the touring New Zealanders and a three-day match without first-class status against Leeds/Bradford UCCE, both at the St Lawrence Ground.
Kent were relegated from Division One of the County Championship, finishing second from bottom. They performed more strongly in limited overs cricket, finishing fourth in Division Two of the NatWest Pro40 and reaching the final of both the Twenty20 Cup and the Friends Provident Trophy, where they were defeated by Middlesex and Essex,Middlesex crowned champions in thriller, Cricinfo, 8 July 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2017.Flower guides Essex to trophy triumph, Cricinfo, 16 August 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2017. respectively. Kent had been the defending champions in the Twenty20 Cup.
Squad Former Pakistan international all-rounder Azhar Mahmood signed a contract with Kent in November 2007 and, having recently applied for British citizenship, he would not count as an overseas player.Azhar Mahmood joins Kent, Cricinfo, 22 November 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2017. South African all-rounder Justin Kemp, who played for Kent in 2005 and 2006, re-signed for the county on a two-year deal in February as a Kolpak player.Kent re-sign South Africa's Kemp, BBC Sport, 7 February 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
Left-arm spinner Min Patel announced his retirement in February, ending a 19-year career with Kent that included two Test caps for England and a total of 630 first-class wickets.Min Patel announces retirement, Cricinfo, 8 February 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
Neil Dexter signed for Essex on a one-month load in June and this was subsequently extended.Dexter signs loan deal with Essex, BBC Sport, 9 June 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2017.Essex extend Dexter loan deal, Cricinfo, 4 July 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2017. After becoming frustrated at a lack of first XI opportunities, Dexter turned down a new contract at the end of the season and went on to sign for Middlesex.Dexter quits Kent for Middlesex, Kent Online, 19 September 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
Batsman Matt Walker was released in September after 20 years with Kent, and having made his first-team debut in 1992.Walker sad at end of Kent career, BBC Sport, 8 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2017. Walker went on to sign for Essex.Essex sign up Kent veteran Walker, BBC Sport, 19 September 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2017. The 2008 season would also be the second and last with Kent for Yasir Arafat, before he re-signed for Sussex.Paceman Arafat returns to Sussex, BBC Sport, 28 October 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
Squad list Ages given as of the first day of the County Championship season, 16 April 2008. Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes BatsmenAlex Blake Left-handed Right arm medium-fast Joe Denly Right-handed Right arm leg break Neil Dexter Right-handed Right arm medium-fast James Goodman Right-handed Right arm medium Rob Key Right-handed Right arm off break Club captainSam Northeast Right-handed Right arm off break Martin van Jaarsveld Right-handed Right arm medium / Right arm off break Kolpak player, vice-captainMatt Walker Left-handed Right arm medium All-roundersAzhar Mahmood Right-handed Right arm fast-medium British citizenJustin Kemp Right-handed Right arm fast-medium Kolpak playerRyan McLaren Left-handed Right arm medium-fast Kolpak playerDarren Stevens Right-handed Right arm medium Yasir Arafat Right-handed Right arm fast-medium Overseas player Wicket-keepersPaul Dixey Right-handed — Geraint Jones Right-handed — BowlersSimon Cook Right-handed Right arm medium-fast James Iles Right-handed Right arm medium-fast Robbie Joseph Right-handed Right arm fast Amjad Khan Right-handed Right arm fast-medium Martin Saggers Right-handed Right arm fast-medium James Tredwell Left-handed Right arm off break
County Championship
Division One
Matches
Other first-class match
Tour match
Friends Provident Trophy
South-East Division TeamPldWTLNRPtsNRRKent Spitfires8502111+0.647Essex Eagles840319+0.310Middlesex Crusaders830328 +0.064Surrey Brown Caps830417 −0.627Sussex Sharks810435 −0.534
Matches
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
NatWest Pro40
Division Two TeamPldWTLN/RPtsNet R/R Essex Eagles 8 6 1 0 1 14 +1.479 Yorkshire Carnegie 8 5 1 1 1 12 +0.250 Glamorgan Dragons 8 5 0 3 0 10 +0.113 Kent Spitfires 8 4 0 2 2 10 +1.629 Surrey Brown Caps 8 4 0 4 0 8 −0.444 Warwickshire Bears 8 3 0 3 2 8 −0.242 Leicestershire Foxes 8 1 1 4 2 5 −0.463 Derbyshire Phantoms 8 1 1 6 0 3 −0.892 Northamptonshire Steelbacks 8 0 0 6 2 2 −0.993
Matches
Twenty20 Cup
South Division Pos Team 1 Middlesex Crusaders 10 8 2 0 0 16 +0.7322 Essex Eagles 10 6 3 1 0 13 +0.9373 Kent Spitfires 10 6 4 0 0 12 +0.6404 Hampshire Hawks 10 5 4 1 0 11 -0.5055 Sussex Sharks 10 2 8 0 0 4 -0.8766 Surrey Brown Caps 10 2 8 0 0 4 -0.905
Matches
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
UCCE match Kent's 3-day match against Leeds/Bradford UCCE in April did not have first-class status.
References
External links Kent home at ESPN cricinfo Kent County Cricket Club official site