An Australian seam bowler has become Kent’s FOURTH 2024 overseas player – the third from his home country!
Charlie Stobo, 29, is set to link-up with Matt Walker’s men from May 20 until September 16, subject to regulatory approval.
He will be available across all formats.
Fellow Australian bowlers Wes Agar (until end of July) and Xavier Bartlett (first eight T20 Blast matches) will also be available in Stobo’s time at the county.
Beyers Swanepoel, a fast-bowling all-rounder from South Africa, will join Kent next week until the end of the season, too.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to play for Kent, which is an exciting new challenge for me,” said Stobo.
“I’m looking forward to linking-up with a few lads that I know already, join a bit of an ‘Aussie takeover’ with Wes Agar already there and Xavier Bartlett set to join soon, and being a part of a squad with a lot of talent.”
Kent director of cricket Simon Cook said: “We’ve been keeping a track on Charlie for a while now and we’re very pleased that we’ve been able to get him on board for a substantial part of our season.
“We’ve identified that he has the attributes that will be successful at Canterbury and will add to our squad depth and give us the ability to rotate players, especially bowlers, to better manage their workloads and get the optimum out of everybody.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Charlie as a Spitfire and we’re confident that he can make good contributions for us across all formats.”
A Sheffield Shield winner in 2023/24 with Western Australia, Stobo is a tall right-arm medium-fast bowler with 55 first-class wickets in 18 matches, with a bowling average of 24.98.
He’s known for his accuracy and ability to swing the new ball, being able to bowl for long periods, and bats in the lower-middle-order.
Stobo has also featured for multiple sides in Australia’s One-Day Cup.
England Cricket Board playing regulations allow counties to have four overseas players registered at any one point, with two permitted in a playing XI.
Stobo and Swanepoel will therefore be eligible to play for Kent Spitfires during the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, as well as any potential knockout matches in any format.
Kent, who return to County Championship Division 1 action against Lancashire at Old Trafford from this Friday, could hand Stobo his club red-ball debut when they face Essex at Canterbury from Friday, May 24.
