New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne is to miss the rest of Kent's Vitality Blast T20 campaign.

The 27-year-old underwent surgery on his ankle on Tuesday and will be sidelined for six weeks.

Kent head coach Matt Walker admitted losing the Kiwi, with three group matches still to play, is a major blow.

He said: "Adam hadn't been quite right and it (the ankle) flared up a little bit around the Gloucestershire game (at Bristol on August 7).

"He had a scan which showed something nasty was going on and he had surgery here on Tuesday.

"It's a blow when you lose your front line bowler, he's someone who has done so well for us.

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"I think he's one of the best around at what he does. His absence is going to leave a huge void but we'll just have to deal with it as we do with these things.

"Things have hit us hard all year, they just keep coming but it's part of cricket and what it does do is present an opportunity for someone else to step up."

Milne made his Kent T20 debut in 2017 and is seventh on their list of all-time wicket takers with 38 at an average of 19.10.

His figures of 5-11 against Somerset at Taunton in 2017 are the county's best in the competition.

Milne has played in all nine games that have started this summer, taking 10 wickets at an average of 24.20. The Kiwi boasts an economy rate of 7.68 with his best figures of 3-21 coming against Hampshire at Beckenham.

Kent, sitting second in the South Group, host Surrey at Canterbury on Friday and will also be without Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi whose deal ended last week.

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