Two leading lights from Kent’s 2023 season have been praised by head coach Matt Walker. Harry Finch performed well behind the stumps in tough circumstances and was handed a contract extension until 2025 last month.
Batsman Tawanda Muyeye was named Kent’s emerging player-of-the-year at October’s end-of-season awards after he hit his maiden first-class century at Northamptonshire in June.
Finch, 28, first came to Kent in 2021 and was thrust into the first-team limelight with several in their squad forced into self-isolation after one member tested positive for Covid, meaning Kent fielded a much-changed team for a County Championship clash against Sussex.
He struck a second-innings century in that game and, while Kent didn’t sign him then, he rejoined Spitfires for their successful One-Day Cup campaign in 2022 before joining permanently. “Finchy has had a really interesting journey,” Walker said, of a player who has enjoyed an extended spell as Kent’s first-team wicketkeeper with Jordan Cox now leaving for rivals Essex and Sam Billings missing much of their last red-ball campaign. “He played at Sussex.