Darren Stevens: Kent all-rounder shares views on club's bowling attack

Published: 06:00, 24 July 2019

Darren Stevens is confident Kent are in safe hands as he prepares to bid farewell to the club.

The 43-year-old is set to leave the county after 15 years at the end of the season, despite producing back-to-back five-fers against Surrey and Hampshire in the County Championship this month.

Stevens, who has registered 11,718 runs and 487 wickets since arriving in 2005, will leave behind a flourishing bowling attack currently led by Matt Milnes' 43 wickets in Division 1.

Darren Stevens looks for runs against Hampshire. Picture: Ady Kerry

Speaking before the news of his departure broke, Stevens said: “It’s very talented (Kent's bowling attack).

“Harry Podmore is not as quick as the other lads but he’s got the skills factor, basically what I do but a little bit quicker.

mpu1

“At my pace I have to ask questions (of the batsman) and that’s the same with Pods, he’s done brilliantly this year.

“Matt Milnes has been outstanding, it’s the first time I’ve really seen him this year.

“I think he’s a high-class bowler and a high-class bloke, he works really hard and lives and breathes cricket. I can only see him getting better and better.

Jonathan Trott: Ex-England batsman set for talks over future at Kent

“Then we’ve got Grant Stewart who’s been around for a couple of years with us, he’s a great all-round cricketer. He’s a dangerous batter and with the ball he swings it both ways at pace.”

Stevens is currently playing on loan at Derbyshire in the T20 Blast having been overlooked by Kent in the competition for the second year running.

Spinner Imran Qayyum was the star man in Saturday's win over Somerset as he took 5-21 at The Spitfire Ground.

South African Kolpak Hardus Viljoen has meanwhile taken four wickets in the opening two games, alongside two from New Zealander Adam Milne.

mpu2

Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi has also made an immediate impact with a key knock of 34, including four sixes, against Somerset.

Stevens, who is still expected to play a part in Kent's four remaining championship games, had been keen to extend his stay in Canterbury.

Speaking earlier this month, Stevens told KentOnline: “Each year I’ve still had that drive, fight and desire to play for Kent and at the highest level and do well. I’m at the same stage now, physically I feel great.

“Obviously you get a few more aches here and there as you get older but I think the competitiveness and the game itself gets me through that.

“I feel great at the minute and I’d love to do one more year, I don’t know what direction the club wants to go.”