Kent bound for Antigua

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Geraint Jones will be absent from Kent's trip to Antigua as he is representing Papua New Guinea in the World Twenty20 qualifier

Kent’s pre-season plans include a 10-day tour of Antigua, the club have announced.

Fourteen players and four support staff will fly to the Caribbean on March 7. When they return, Kent face three home friendlies against other counties.

Beginning with two one-day games, Middlesex are the visitors to Beckenham on March 23 before Glamorgan twice play at Canterbury, in a one-day match on March 27 and a two-day fixture beginning on March 28.

Kent, whose first competitive contest is with Yorkshire at Headingley Carnegie in the LV= County Championship from April 5, will be without Geraint Jones and several youngsters for the Antigua trip.

Former England wicketkeeper-batsman Jones will be representing Papua New Guinea, the country of his birth, at the World Twenty20 qualifier while the others will be on England Under-19 duty or at university.

Captain Rob Key said: “With our first championship match very early in April, against Yorkshire at Headingley, we needed to guarantee that we could get uninterrupted pre-season training on good wickets.

“Sadly this can’t be taken for granted in England and amongst the various options available to us, Antigua ticked the most boxes.”

Chief executive Jamie Clifford added: “We have received wonderful support from the Antiguan Tourist people in putting the pre-season programme together.

“This has included them covering the cost of a reconnaissance trip by a player and staff member before committing to the location.”

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