Kent v Cardiff UCCE

KENT name eight of the side who slipped to defeat in last week's opening LV Championship match of the summer against Sussex for their three-day friendly against Cardiff University Centre of Cricketing Excellence starting in Canterbury on Wednesday.

The county captain Rob Key, who made six and nought in the eight-wicket reverse in Hove, will lead the side and will also give a home debut to Kolpak signing Ryan McLaren.

Simon Cook, Yasir Arafat and Martin van Jaarsveld are all rested, but Neil Dexter has recovered from a virus and will stake his claim for a first team place.

Although the game is not a first-class fixture, Kent's director of coaching Graham Ford sees it as a big opportunity.

He said: "It's a very important game for some of our guys to kick start their season by getting their skills and disciplines right.

"Obviously last week didn't go according to plan but this is a three-day game and a fresh start and I'm sure it will be useful in helping people like McLaren in adapting to bowling with the Dukes ball and acclimatising to English conditions."

In confirming his intentions to rest overseas signing Yasir Arafat and his premier Kolpak player Martin van Jaarsveld, Ford added: "With the smaller squad we have this year we have to be pretty careful with the amount of work we ask the guys to do, especially at this stage of the year.

"There is a balancing act required yet we have still fielded a very strong side."

The squad also includes former Kent Academy scholar Warren Lee, who impressed in pre-season matches against Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire, as well as former Test players Geraint Jones, Min Patel and Martin Saggers.

The young Cardiff UCCE side are coached by former first-class umpire Kevin Lyons.

Admission for each of the three days is free and the action is scheduled to start at 11am.

Kent from: Key, Denly, Dexter, Walker, Stevens, Jones, McLaren, Tredwell, Patel, Joseph, Saggers, Lee.