Bevan set for Kent debut

Michael Bevan will become the latest in a long list of overseas players to play county cricket this season when he makes his Kent debut, against Middlesex at Southgate tomorrow.

Bevan, 34, has also played for Sussex, Leicestershire and Yorkshire in the past, and he will have seven Championship matches with Kent, whose title ambitions took a severe blow after they were stuffed by an innings and 45 runs against Sussex at Hove yesterday.

Kent were without Andrew Symonds, the Australian allrounder who has been one of their overseas players this season, for that match. He was recalled by the Australian board to have an Achilles injury looked at, and David Fulton, Kent's captain, is looking forward to Bevan's arrival. "He's a world-class player who demands high standards from himself and his team-mates in terms of preparation, performance and fitness," he said. "It'll be good for our younger lads to work with someone like that and I'm really looking forward to working with him."

Bevan certainly has plenty of experience. He has played 232 one-day internationals and 18 Tests for Australia, and was once renowned to be one of the best finishers in the one-day game. However, his international career now looks to be over after he was overlooked by the Australian board in the 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy in England this September.