Matt Henry to return to Kent for 2022

New Zealand international Matt Henry will return to Kent for the 2022 county season.

Henry, the 29-year-old right-arm seamer, is set to join the club on July 10 and will be available for up to seven Championship games and for the Royal London Cup, subject to regulatory approval.

Having originally played for Kent as an overseas player in 2018, Henry had planned to re-join them during the 2020 season before the Covid-19 pandemic forced both parties agreed on his withdrawal.

He took 75 wickets in 11 matches during the 2018 Championship, finishing the year as Division Two's highest wicket-taker, with a bowling average of 15.48. During that time, he achieved new first-class best bowling figures twice, firstly with 7 for 45 at Durham before his current best of 7 for 42 against Northamptonshire.

In the 2018 One-Day Cup, Henry was part of the side that reached the final at Lord's, taking 16 wickets in 11 matches and he won Kent's Bowler of the Year award at the season's end.

In 2021, Kent topped Division Three of the Championship and won the Vitality Blast title.

"I have really good memories of playing for Kent in the past," Henry said. "I'm driven to bring more success to the county in 2022. It was fantastic to see Kent win silverware in 2021, and I know that further trophies are the target for everyone at the county next season - hopefully I can have an impact in making that happen."

Overall in first-class cricket, Henry has 335 wickets at an average of 24.71, including 15 five-wicket hauls, from 78 career matches. Last June, he finished with six wickets for the match in the second Test against England at Edgbaston - his most recent appearance for New Zealand - and he now has 37 wickets from 14 Tests. In ODIs, he has taken 98 wickets in 55 matches at an average of 25.89 and economy of 5.29.