KENT are suffering a pre-season captaincy curse following a third injury to one of their senior players and team leaders.

Acting skipper Mark Ealham is the latest to suffer. The all-rounder's back injury on Saturday followed hot on the heels of long-term injuries to club captain David Fulton and senior pro and no1 spinner Min Patel

Fulton could be sidelined for at least a month after surgery to repair damage to his right eye, the legacy of being hit by a practice ball bouncer in pre-season training.

Fulton has since been joined on the sick list by his potential vice skipper Patel, who underwent an operation in the Wellington Hospital in London on Thursday to repair a slipped disc.

Patel, who was troubled by neck and shoulder injuries throughout last season, is recuperating at his home in Bexley but seems likely to miss the first half of the championship campaign.

Kent completed an unwelcome hat-trick at Fenner’s where Ealham pulled up with a stiff back in the field and managed just seven overs in the draw with Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence.

The former England all-rounder recovered sufficiently to open and score 64 in Kent’s second innings, but it is important he makes a quick and full recovery in time to lead the club into Wednesday’s championship opener with Leicestershire in Canterbury.

Ealham’s injury permitting, Kent will hope to name an unchanged squad for the visit of a Leicestershire side that could include ex-Kent players Paul Nixon and Lordswood’s David Masters.

Kent from: Carberry, Key, Smith, Blewett, Walker, Ealham, Jones, Tredwell, Khan, Saggers, Sheriyar, Trott, Trego.