AUSTRALIA’S prolific run-getter Michael Bevan stands by for his Kent debut against Middlesex at Southgate today.

The former Yorkshire, Sussex and Leicestershire star flew in to England on Sunday after Andrew Symonds’ departure through injury and will remain with the county until the end of the season.

The veteran of 214 first-class games, 34-year-old Bevan boasts an impressive career-average 57.64 for the long-form and 58 in limited-overs’ games. Today he takes his place in a much-changed Kent squad that will again miss Rob Key and Geraint Jones on England duty in Birmingham.

Amjad Khan is ruled out with a hip injury picked up at Hove, and Martin Saggers is sidelined for a further fortnight with his patella tendonitis in the right knee. Spinner James Tredwell and all-rounder Matthew Dennington are dropped, the latter after making the squad for the innings defeat to Sussex.

The spare berths in the bowling department are handed to 22-year-old rookie paceman Rob Joseph and former Somerset seamer Ben Trott.

It is the first time Anitiguan-born Joseph, a former Sutton Valence School pupil, has been named in a Kent championship squad since receiving British citizenship earlier this year.

Kent from: Fulton, Carberry, Smith, Bevan, Walker, Loudon, O'Brien, Patel, Butler, Joseph, Trott and Sheriyar.