Kent’s Jack Leaning says spinner Matt Parkinson has already given fans a glimpse of what he can do despite unsuccessful One-Day Cup title defence

England international spinner Matt Parkinson has already given Kent fans a glimpse of what he can do.

That’s the verdict of Jack Leaning after 26-year-old Parkinson finished his One-Day Cup loan with 17 wickets at an average of 18.47.

It wasn’t enough for Spitfires to qualify for the knockout stages as they lost their grip on the trophy they won impressively at Trent Bridge last September.

But Parkinson made a big impression and could yet return for two of the county’s final Championship matches next month.

Even though Kent didn’t progress to the knockout stages, the competition allowed them to slowly bring fast bowler Nathan Gilchrist back from injury while teenage all-rounder Jaydn Denly was given first-team exposure with key Kent players at The Hundred.

Leaning said: “It’s nice to get people like Nathan back on the park. Jas Singh again has come on from where he was last year.

“Matt Parkinson, obviously, has been a fantastic signing. I think people are getting a glimpse of how he’s going to fit into our team going forward. The natural wicket-taker that he is, is fantastic.

“With the competition and how it’s situated at the moment, it gave Jaydn and other lads the chance to come in and prove their worth as players.”

Following the conclusion of Spitfires’ 50-over cup campaign, which ended with four wins and four defeats, Parkinson hinted he could be back before the end of the summer.

He said: “This is the happiest I’ve been for a long time on a field with at Kent. I can’t wait for the rest of the season.”

Leaning, meanwhile, struck his List A record score with an unbeaten 137 from 127 balls in Kent’s 60-run win over Essex in Canterbury on Sunday.

“I enjoyed it, to be honest,” he said. “I feel an innings like that has