Denly absent for Kent

Joe Denly is a notable absentee from Kent's squad to face Gloucestershire at Beckingham

Kent will be missing opening batsman Joe Denly due to England commitments as they head into their LV= County Championship Division Two clash with Gloucestershire.

Denly, whose last Championship innings consisted of a valiant 123 in a losing cause against Essex, is on England Lions duty against Australia and is therefore ruled out of the fixture at Beckenham.

Denly`s spot at the top of the order will be taken by youngster Sam Northeast.

Also drafted into the squad is Azhar Mahmood, who missed the 122-run defeat at Tunbridge Wells last time out. There is however no room for seamer Robbie Joseph.

Gloucestershire have a number of injuries to contend with as they look to extend their lead at the top of the division.

Batsman Chris Taylor is out after he suffered a hand injury while seamer Ian Saxelby (knee) is also not named in the squad.

Captain Alex Gidman is however pencilled in to make his comeback after suffering a back injury earlier this season. The 28-year-old made a return in the recent Twenty20 game against Glamorgan at Bristol and came through the encounter unscathed.

Off-spinner Richard Dawson and paceman Gemaal Hussain have both been included in the squad.