Kent’s new overseas signing, Wahab Riaz, has arrived in the country and been cleared to make his debut for the county in tonight’s Friends Life t20 game against Somerset at Taunton.
The Pakistan international arrived yesterday afternoon after receiving his visa, before making his way to Taunton to meet up with the rest of the Kent squad. The left-arm fast bowler’s inclusion in the squad will be a major boost for the Spitfires after they lost both Matt Coles (metatarsal) and Martin van Jaarsveld (broken finger) to injury this week.
Skipper Rob Key will have a new-look attack to call on with Riaz and fellow overseas signing Charl Langeveldt likely to spearhead the Kent attack at Taunton and for Saturday night’s trip to Cardiff to face the Glamorgan Dragons.
Key will be looking at his experienced overseas to make inroads into a Somerset batting line-up that took the Spitfires’ attack apart at Tunbridge Wells last Friday night. They will have to counter the attacking instincts of Roelof van der Merwe who hit a career-best 89 at the Nevill Ground, while Marcus Trescothick remains the linchpin of the Somerset side.
Sam Northeast profits from van Jaarsveld’s absence and will bat at three for the Spitfires, while Adam Ball is likely to get the nod over Ashley Shaw and Adam Riley despite his one over going for 28 against Hampshire last Sunday.
Play starts tonight at 5.30pm.
Kent’s likely line-up: Joe Denly, Rob Key, Sam Northeast, Darren Stevens, Geraint Jones, Azhar Mahmood, James Tredwell, Wahab Riaz, Adam Ball, Charl Langeveldt, Simon Cook.
