Teenage Kent all-rounder Jaydn Denly’s talent excites head coach Matt Walker – but he warns patience will be pivotal during his development.
Denly, the nephew of team-mate Joe Denly, burst into Spitfires’ first-team spotlight with some fine displays in their 2023 One-Day Cup campaign.
The 18-year-old has since been involved at the under-19 World Cup with England in South Africa. His best performance came with figures of 3-37 against the hosts but England were knocked out at the Super Sixes stage.
On the development of Denly, Walker said: “It’s great. This is what you want to see.
“Jaydn had the opportunity to play in the 50-over competition and did really nicely.
“He fielded like an absolute jet and made his mark. He’s had the opportunity to represent England and, to be doing so at a World Cup, it’s a great experience for him at this age. He will be learning all the time.
“His experiences – good and bad – will really start shaping him as a player.”
Denly’s 2024 season will be his first as a professional after he signed senior terms this winter.
Walker stated: “To sign another Kent lad from the Academy, that’s great.
“It shows the Academy is working and that there are players out there in the county that can be developed into professional cricketers.
“You hope it’s inspirational for the other lads that have been in the Academy with Jaydn to see that he has kicked on.
“It’s very exciting to see how he goes but there’s no rush.
“He’s only just starting out and, no matter how hard you work or how much you want it, it does take a bit of time sometimes.
“He’ll start the first stepping stone of playing second-team cricket, building up his experience and getting really good at that.
“Then, we’ll see what comes of it as the season gets going. He’s an exciting prospect.
“We like him very much and, bit by bit, hopefully, he will become a regular in the first team down the line and we’ll see where it takes him.”
Denly is the son of Whitstable first-team captain Sam Denly, who has also been a football manager with Herne Bay and Hythe Town.
Kent started a two-day pre-season friend against Middlesex at Merchant Taylors’ School.
Fielding first, Jas Singh (4-32) was the pick of Kent’s bowlers as Middlesex made 206-6 from 60 overs.
Kent had made it to 94-3 from 25 overs at the close, captain Daniel Bell-Drummond (47 not out) and wicketkeeper Harry Finch (28 not out) both unbeaten.
