Warwickshire v Kent

IT’S almost a foregone conclusion that Kent will take on Warwickshire at some stage during their annual Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy run.

There was a sigh of acceptance last month when Kent’s players huddled around the television in Derbyshire’s pavilion to hear that the draw had again paired them with Warwickshire in the quarter-finals.

So there will be an air of familiarity when David Fulton’s side arrive at Edgbaston on Friday for the 13th meeting between the two counties since the competition began.

Looking ahead to the tie, Kent’s director of coaching Graham Ford said: "It’s always tough to play away from home at any stage of this competition, but we can take a lot of confidence out of our three-day championship win in Birmingham just a few weeks ago.

"They have good batting strength right through the side and a respected match-winner in Nick Knight, but they’re a long way from being a one-man side.

"Of course we know where their strengths and weaknesses lie and we will hope to include those in a game plan, but the most vital thing is that our players keep their own standards and energy levels high from the first ball to the last.

"And yes, we are hoping its unlucky 13 for them."

To date the Bears boast seven wins to Kent’s five and recent history also favours Warwickshire.

Nick Knight’s side cruised to a nine-wicket win in last season’s third round, but Kent will prefer to recall their 2002 meeting when they overwhelmed the second-city side by 128 runs after amassing 328 from their 50 overs.

This latest meeting may yet come down to the thoughts, form and decision-making of the two very contrasting club captains Fulton and Knight.

Left-handed Knight is a veritable prince of one-day cricket having played a century of ODIs.

His domestic record in the short form of the game is almost without equal too, Knight having scored 11,848 runs at an average of almost 38, while this season he boasts a C&G Trophy average of 88.5.

Conversely, Fulton’s one-day credentials hardly bare scrutiny, indeed he has scored just seven half-centuries in his 100-plus limited overs appearances to date, while his average skirts around 20.

Fulton’s value to the Kent one-day unit came into question earlier this month when senior players suggested he stood down for the Twenty20 campaign, indicating perhaps that the squad foresee a different way forward to the one-day leadership.

That decision may yet herald a return to the days of 2001, when Fulton led the four-day unit while limited overs’ specialist Matthew Fleming led the one-day side – whether that new era begins at Edgbaston only time will tell.

Warwickshire welcome back Ian Bell, Ashley Giles and Dougie Brown from international duty while Kent are boosted by the return of wicketkeeper-batsman Geraint Jones in a rare break from England commitments, meaning Niall O’Brien will stand down.

The visitors will also consider a recall for South African all-rounder Justin Kemp, who was dropped from championship action this week, while Michael Carberry pressed for his inclusion by scoring 124 in Monday’s 2nd XI Trophy win over Surrey.

And the Surrey first string will provide Kent’s next championship opposition when the title-chasing counties do battle in the Frizzell Division 1 in Guildford from next Wednesday, July 20.