Kent v Lancashire

A RARE Liverpool Victoria Championship appearance by England star Andrew Flintoff seems likely to boost the crowd and give an extra edge to Kent’s four-day clash with Lancashire starting in Canterbury on Tuesday.

The red rose all-rounder is in line for only his sixth championship game in two seasons as Kent bid to cement fourth-place in Division 1.

Skipper Robert Key will consider his team-selection options once he sees the pitch prepared at St Lawrence and will then decide whether to make changes to the side that had the worst of a four-day draw with Sussex in Hove through to Sunday.

Key will decide whether to continue with the policy of playing two spinners in Min Patel and James Tredwell or to bolster his seam department, possibly at the expense of off-spinner Tredwell who suffered a disappointing time with bat, ball and in the field when down on the south coast.

Former England seamer Martin Saggers, who has been bowling in the 2nd XI for the past three weeks despite slight pain from a foot injury, is pushing for a place together with Simon Cook and Rob Joseph.

But Key may opt to play batsman Neil Dexter, who also bowls useful and tidy medium-pace.

Indeed, Dexter was the pick of Kent’s attack when these two sides met in the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford in May when the hosts, without Flintoff, coasted to a six-wicket win.

The visitors have also named Genn Chapple and Mal Loye in their party.

Kent from: Fulton, Key, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Stevens, Dexter, Bravo, Henderson, O’Brien, Patel, Khan, Tredwell, Joseph, Cook.