MAIDSTONE’S cricket festival week begins on Sunday at 2.30pm when The Mote will take on an all-star Lashings side.

Admission and parking at The Mote is free and the Lashings side will include one of the world’s fastest bowlers Shoaib Akhtar.

Also in the line-up will be Zimbabwe’s Grant Flower and West Indies’ Sherwin Campbell, Stuart Williams and Richie Richardson.

Kent's festival programme begins on Wednesday, July 7, with the four-day county championship clash against Warwickshire.

The Edgbaston-based side will arrive at The Mote as Benson & Hedges champions but still smarting from their Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy drubbing against Kent earlier in the month.

Kent will hope to have one-day skipper Matthew Fleming back in the frame after his torn thigh muscle kept him out of the match in Liverpool.

Durham will then travel to Maidstone for a Norwich Union League match on July 7.