Big-hitting white-ball specialist Alex Blake and spinner James Logan leave Kent following the end of their 2023 season
Published: 14:30, 03 October 2023
Updated: 15:00, 03 October 2023
Two players have left Kent - one of them bringing a 17-year association with the club to an end.
One-day specialist Alex Blake, 34, and 25-year-old spinner James Logan have both made their Kent exits following the conclusion of the season.
Blake graduated from the Academy in 2007 and has made 343 appearances for Kent across all formats.
“I’ll look back with very fond memories on my 17 years as a professional player at Kent,” said Blake, who plays his club cricket in the Kent League Premier Division with Hayes, after his departure was confirmed on Tuesday.
“Even further beyond that, my journey at the club started out as just an eight-year-old kid in the age-group set-up, progressing through the Academy and, eventually, achieving my dream of a professional contract at my boyhood team.
“I have always given my all to the badge and hope I was able to entertain a few along the way in the manner of which I played. More importantly, I have loved every minute of it.
“I’d like to thank the club for all the opportunities they have given me along with the many team-mates I’ve had the pleasure of sharing a dressing room with and, of course, all the fans for their support along the way.
“I want to wish the club all the very best with the future and the new direction that they are taking.
“I’ll always keep a keen eye on the county’s results as a true fan of this great club.”
New director of cricket Simon Cook said: “Blakey has been an outstanding servant for us in his long time as a Kent cricketer.
“He leaves us having made some memorable performances in T20 and one-day cricket and will, quite rightly, be remembered as one of the most successful limited-overs cricketers that the club has produced.
“We thank Alex for his many contributions in a Kent shirt and wish him the very best for the future - he will always be welcome back at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.”
An explosive hitter and multiple fielder-of-the-year award winner, Farnborough-born Blake amassed 6,902 runs overall - being part of the victorious T20 squads of 2007 and 2021, as well as being a regular in the side which won last year’s One-Day Cup.
He became Kent’s first white-ball contract player in 2020.
Logan made 12 first-team appearances for Kent in the 2021 season after making his debut in the 2021 T20 Blast competition - which Kent would go on to win - against Hampshire. He took 1-14 from three overs.
His best figures of 3-8 came against Leicestershire in the 2021 County Championship as Kent finished top of Division 3 in the temporary pandemic-induced format.
A Kent spokesman added: “Everyone at Kent Cricket thanks Alex and James for their contributions in a Kent shirt and wishes them the very best for the future.”
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