Cambridge University v Kent

KENT will field something of a development side for their three-day first-class friendly with Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence starting at Fenner’s on Wednesday morning.

Director of coaching Graham Ford is taking the opportunity to rest the majority of his first team and blood several of his young guns, including Kent schoolboys Paul Dixey and James Iles.

Dixey, a young wicketkeeper batsman from King’s School in Canterbury, will be making a second county appearance following his debut against Bangladesh A last summer.

However, the game will mark a first-class debut for Maidstone Grammar School pupil James Iles, a former England Under-15 fast bowler who is taking time out from his GCSE studies to play for Kent.

Ford had wanted to play rising stars Sam Northeast from Walmer, near Deal, and all-rounder Alex Blake, but both had prior school commitments with Harrow and Hayes respectively.

The team will be skippered by Darren Stevens, who will hope for a featherbed Fenner’s pitch for some valuable batting practice, and will also include first team players Neil Dexter, Rob Ferley and Niall O’Brien, who will play solely as a batsman.

Fringe pacemen Matt Dennington, David Stiff and Simon Cusden will also make rare appearances, the latter pair having overcome knee and calf problems respectively.

Kent: Denly, Dexter, O’Brien, Stevens, Tredwell, Dixey, Ferley, Dennington, Stiff, Cusden, Iles.