FABIAN COWDREY, son of former Kent and England captain Chris Cowdrey, and grandson of the late Sir Colin, is one of nine youngsters who have been selected to join the first intake at the club’s new Junior Academy.

A right hand bat, like his father and grandfather, Cowdrey is joined by seam bowler Benedict Kemp, son of Nick Kemp, who played for the county from 1977 until 1981.

The other seven are wicketkeeper/batsman Shaun Piesley, younger brother of ex- county stumper Richard, Tom Coldman, an off-spinner and opening batsman, James Lilley, batsman, wicketkeeper and off spinner, left arm seamer Adam Ball, batsman Daniel Bell Drummond, a Millfield schoolboy, whose father represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Olympics, leg spinner Charlie Nash, and 6ft 4in tall 13-year-old King’s School batsman Jack Masters.

FOUR new scholars include Tonbridge schoolboys Hugo Snape, 16, and 15-year-old Tom Elliott.

Snape is a six foot pace bowler from Alkham Valley near Dover, while Elliott is a left arm spinner from Cowden near Edenbridge,

The three others are left handed batsman Chris Piesley, 15, another member of the cricketing family from Sittingbourne, and 17-year-old Alex Senn from Blackheath, who made his Second team debut for the county this summer.