Coach Graham Ford this week hailed Joe Denly's call-up to the England one-day squad as "fantastic news" even though it means Kent will be without their talented opening batsman for the rest of the season.

Denly is the only uncapped member of the 15-strong party, selected for a one-day international against Ireland in Belfast next week, two Twenty20 internationals and seven ODIs against Australia, and the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa beginning next month.

The 23-year-old could have already played his last game for the county this summer, if he is rested from Sunday's Nat West Pro40 game against Derbyshire at Chesterfield.

Ford said:" It's fantastic news for Joe and I am absolutely delighted for him. He has produced some outstanding performances. I am sure the selectors have had their eye on him for some time and he has continued to produce some excellent knocks.

"I remember the innings he played in last season's Friends Provident Trophy semi-final win against Durham, which impressed a lot of people and made them sit up and take notice. In the circumstances we are happy to get on with our business without him."

Denly will miss Kent's last five remaining LV County Championship matches, beginning against Surrey at Canterbury on Friday week, but his promotion to the international stage could give another of the county's promising youngsters, Sam Northeast, an extended run in the side.

Ford meanwhile believes the form of three other players James Tredwell, Rob Key and Darren Stevens demands recognition.

He said: "Treddy has done very well and I thought he had a good chance of being in the 30-man provisional squad. Keysy needs the bigger stage to kick his game on and Darren has been in great form in the Twenty20 competition."

Denly's call-up was a timely boost for the county following the events in the Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston.

Ford admitted: "It was certainly disappointing, considering how well the guys had done to get there but we were never quite on our game.

"Twenty20 is a tough format, things happen extremely quickly and I think that is what makes it so exciting for the spectators.

"Marcus Trescothick played extremely well and he blew us out of the water before we realised what was happening."

Ford also confirmed it was unlikely Wayne Parnell would return to Kent.

He said: "The demands of the international calender are so great these days, and it's pretty unpredictable with so many different competitions going on around the world.

"He is now pretty hot property in South African cricket and they will want to wrap him up in cotton wool and look after him. It might have been different had he not done so well in the World Twenty20."

The Spitfires semi-final defeat cost them the chance of competing for a reported £3.6m purse in the Champions League to be staged in India in October.

Chairman George Kennedy was philosophical though about missing out saying: "These things happen. We were thrashed by Somerset and they were odds-on favourites to go on and win it only to lose to Sussex.

"We didn't quite perform on the day and are disappointed but not distraught. We are still top Division 2 in the County Championship and our prority now is winning it."