Mahmood makes Kent bow

Azhar Mahmood joins Kent after six years at Surrey

Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood will make his LV County Championship debut for Kent in the Division One clash against Nottinghamshire at Canterbury.

Mahmood, who moved from Surrey during the winter, is included in the home side’s starting XI.

The 33-year-old, who qualifies as a non-overseas player due to his British wife, will line up alongside current Pakistan seamer Yasir Arafat, the county’s overseas player.

Rob Key leads a familiar-looking side following a winter that saw few personnel changes at the County Ground.

For Notts, Adam Voges and Darren Pattinson make their Championship debuts in the county's first match since regaining promotion to Division One.

It is also Chris Read's first as captain on a permanent basis, after Stephen Fleming's decision to retire.

Overseas player Voges has played a single one-day international for Australia, while fast bowler Pattinson, though a Pura Cup player for Victoria, is British-qualified as he was born in Grimsby.

England all-rounder Graeme Swann is available, but fast bowlers Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad cannot play until next week’s first-class game with Oxford UCCE.

Charlie Shreck will lead the attack, with Pattinson, Paul Franks and Mark Ealham as back-up.

Matt Wood is preferred to Bilal Shafayat as the opening partner for Will Jefferson.