AS HE limped off the field towards the dressing room after his final innings for Kent, Tyron Henderson was afforded the style of ovation usually received by an all-conquering hero.

He broke his left foot on the first day of Kent’s championship clash with Sussex, the legacy of a Yasir Arafat yorker, and Henderson knew this would be his last contribution.

Having started his Kent career with a wicket in his first over during a man-of-the-match display at Beckenham, this was certainly not the fairytale farewell Henderson had imagined.

He said: “It’s not the best timing in the world to pick up an injury I know, but that’s the nature of the game. I’d rather have gone out with a hurrah for sure with some quick runs and a few wickets in a one-day game, but that wasn’t meant to be.

"As soon as I walked off the field I knew my season here was more or less over."

The likeable South African left St Lawrence with plenty of good memories.

Few who saw it will forget his six that cleared the Frank Woolley stand or his unique way of batting Kent to a draw in Hove in July where he came in to hammer 31 runs from 15 balls.

"I’d like to think I’ve made a bit of an impression at Kent," he added modestly.

"I believe cricket is meant to be entertaining and if the ball’s there to be hit, I’ll try and hit it as far as I can, be it a four-day game or in limited overs. People like to see cricketers play that way.

"I’d love to come back and play again, particularly at Kent."