KENT’S coaching staff will take a good look at 18-year-old off-spinner Charlie Hemphrey in their opening pre-season friendly of the season against Nottinghamshire starting in Canterbury today.

The former Harvey Grammar School pupil and one-time Kent Academy Scholar has impressed head coach Graham Ford during practice sessions and will show his skills at the St Lawrence ground today.

Following the retirement of Min Patel through persistent elbow problems, England A spinner James Tredwell is now Kent’s sole remaining senior slow bowler, so these two limited overs game against Nottinghamshire, today and Friday, will give Hythe teenager Hemphrey an opportunity to stake his claim as Tredwell’s understudy.

The action is set to start at 11am and admission is free on both days.

Kent will select another 11 for Friday's re-match, which should see the return to first team action for Amjad Khan after a year out through injury.

Kent side to take on Nottinghamshire today: Key, Denly, Dexter, van Jaarsveld, Stevens, Walker, Jones, Tredwell, Cook, Joseph, Hemphrey.