Skipper Joe Denly is calling upon Kent’s squad to focus on themselves ahead of the Royal London One-Day Cup final. While the Spitfires will not be adding to their squad for Saturday’s showpiece at Trent Bridge despite the players who played in The Hundred now being available, Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple looks set to go with his strongest side.
Denly has no qualms about Lancashire bringing those players in - although in reality a lot of those players will be on international duty with England anyway - but Denly says he doesn’t think it matters who plays against the Spitfires. “It’s their choice, isn’t it?" said Denly, who has captained Kent to five wins in their last six one-day cup games. "I have spoken to the lads, I don’t care what team they put out.
It shouldn’t affect the way we go about our business. “As long as we’re focusing on what we bring to the table, what we do well, and what’s worked for us - especially in the last four or five games - it doesn’t matter what team they put out in my eyes.” Denly, 36, missed Kent’s first three Royal London One-Day Cup matches this summer through injury and his return coincided with the team’s upturn in fortunes. “It’s gone all right this year, it’s been good,” he said. “It was frustrating to miss out in the first three games.
Since I have been back in, the boys have been great. “The way the boys have responded, especially to the first few games and few losses, the last five or six games for us have pretty much knock-out cricket and cup finals within themselves.