Kent v Nottinghamshire

ALL-ROUNDER Justin Kemp will take the opportunity to rest a niggling shoulder injury ahead of next week’s hectic Twenty20 Cup schedule when Kent take on Nottinghamshire in Canterbury from Tuesday.

The big-hitting South African has played through the last month with the problem and put in some superb performances including a 20-ball half-century at Tunbridge Wells and last week’s 56-ball ton against Durham in Stockton.

But with Kemp’s hard-hitting vital to Kent’s Twenty20 fortunes, Kent will replace him for the next four days with fellow South African Neil Dexter, who has impressed in recent one-day appearances.

Simon Cook is also named in a squad of 12, leaving skipper Rob Key with the same seam or spin decision as last week when he opted to play off-spinner James Tredwell ahead of Cook’s seamers.

Struggling Nottinghamshire, who only opened their championship win account against Middlesex last week, welcome back left-arm swing bowler Ryan Sidebottom to their squad after a heel injury.

The reigning champions also include reserve wicketkeeper David Alleyne in their party and he looks set to play as a specialist batsman.

Former Kent all-rounder Mark Ealham, still a popular figure with the St Lawrence faithful, is also likely to play in the repeat of last season’s title deciding game.

Kent from: Fulton, Key, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Dexter, Hall, Tredwell, O’Brien, Patel, Khan, Cook.

* MARK PENNELL'S FIRST DAY REPORT WILL APPEAR HERE AT THE CLOSE OF PLAY THIS EVENING.