Jack Leaning signs new Kent contract until 2026 as club vice-captain

Jack Leaning has penned a new long-term Kent deal.

Leaning has made a huge impact since he signed from Yorkshire in October 2019 and his fresh contract will run until at least the end of the 2026 season.

The batting all-rounder, 30, has captained Kent 32 times in 118 appearances and expressed an interest in becoming club skipper at the end of the 2023 summer.

And, although it was Daniel Bell-Drummond who got the nod as Kent’s new red-ball skipper in October, vice-captain Leaning is still clearly a big part of head coach Matt Walker’s plans. He is set to become Spitfires skipper throughout their 2024 Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign, subject to his availability.

While he has spent recent winters with Sutherland in Australia, Leaning has opted to stay at home this close season.

He said: “I’m extremely excited to see what the future holds at Kent Cricket and I was quick to make sure that I could commit to as many years as I could here going forward.

“I now feel right at home here - I’ve loved every second of my four seasons as a Spitfire so far and I’m already looking forward to getting under way for 2024 and beyond.

“These past few weeks, I’ve spent a lot of time with both my team-mates for winter training but also with the guys in the club office, seeing how we as players can contribute towards more off-field success, as well as on it.

“Together, we’re an extremely ambitious club and want to remain right up there with the Test-hosting counties.

“I’m honoured to be Kent’s new vice-captain and it’s a position that I’m ready to throw myself completely into.”

Overall, he’s scored more than 4,000 Kent runs in all formats at an average of more than 35.00, as well as contributing 51 wickets with his right-arm off-spin.

He became