Jaydn Denly, nephew of Kent team-mate Joe Denly, pens first senior contract with Kent

A teenager who was brought into Kent’s first-team squad in their 2023 One-Day Cup campaign has penned his first senior contract with the club.

All-rounder Jaydn Denly, the nephew of Kent team-mate Joe Denly, made his senior bow against Surrey, hitting his first ball in professional cricket for four and taking figures of 1-20 in Kent’s 87-run victory.

He has since made five appearances for Spitfires in the 50-over competition, averaging nearly 30 with the bat while he has also earned four wickets.

The 17-year-old said: “I’m thrilled to sign my first contract as a Kent cricketer after coming through the age groups here.

“I know this is just the start for me and I’m hungry for more first-team opportunities going forward.”

Director of cricket Simon Cook said: “Jaydn has made the step up to the first team successfully last year and became a mainstay of our one-day squad in the back-end of the One-Day Cup.

“He’s an exciting young talent that can contribute with bat, ball and in the field.

“I look forward to seeing him continue to develop as part of our first-team squad for 2024.”

Denly has been selected for the England under-19s’ Quadrangular Youth One-Day series in India, which begins this Saturday.

The series is to be played in Vijayawada and will feature India under-19s A, India under-19s B and Bangladesh under-19s, as well as England.

He’s the son of Whitstable CC first-team skipper Sam Denly.