Kent sign Stoinis and Milne for Blast

Cricket365
March 15, 2018

New Zealand paceman Adam Milne will return to The Spitfire Ground after a record-breaking debut T20 season for Kent.

The 25-year-old fast bowler took a club record 5/11 against Somerset last summer and will re-join the Spitfires for the 2018 Vitality Blast, which starts in early July.

Milne topped the bowling averages with 15 wickets at 12.46 and a strike rate of a wicket every 10 balls, conceding just 7.23 an over.

Milne, who has 59 caps for New Zealand in white-ball cricket, said: “I’m delighted to re-join Kent for the Vitality Blast and play at The Spitfire Ground again.

“We were really disappointed to come out on the wrong end of so many close matches last summer and with such a talented squad, we’ll be looking to make amends.”

Director of cricket Paul Downton said: “Adam had an excellent first season at Kent so we’re delighted to secure his services again for 2018.

“Bowlers of Adam’s pace and skill are rare and we believe he can be a match-winner for us in this format.”

Kent have also signed Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for this summer’s Vitality Blast T20 competition.

The 28-year-old returns to the Garden of England after playing five matches for Kent’s second XI in 2012 and will be available for the last nine of the 14 games of the group stage.

A destructive middle-order batsman and medium-fast bowler, Stoinis has gone on to play for Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League and Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League in Australia.

Stoinis said: “I’m looking forward to returning to Kent to play in the Vitality Blast.

“It will be my first taste of county cricket and I can’t wait to play under the lights at The Spitfire Ground.”

Director of cricket Paul Downton said: “Marcus is a dynamic cricketer who will add depth to our batting and bowling in the Vitality Blast.

“He has T20 experience in a number of overseas competitions and his recent white-ball form for Australia has been impressive. He is a match winner and I’m delighted he will be joining us this summer.”