Sidelined Kent fast bowler Michael Cohen has found a unique way to keep himself occupied this summer.
Winter recruit Cohen was handed the devastating news his season had finished before it had even started due to a back stress fracture. He also missed much of 2021 with a similar issue.
While the former South Africa under-19 international would dearly love to be out on the field with his new team-mates, he has – at least – provided support to Kent’s performance analyst James Tomson and senior data analyst Dan Weston prior to the latter’s Kent departure in late June.
Head coach Matt Walker said: “It’s really tough.
“I feel absolutely devastated for him.
“At a new county, he has worked really hard for this opportunity to come here. He was a real find for us.
“What he does is a bit different to certainly what we have got here – a dynamic, fast bowler that could have made a real impact in both formats.
“But sport sucks sometimes. When you get injured, it’s the worst place to be.
“He’s been brilliant. I have been so impressed with how he has dealt with it.
“He has been working hard with the analysts, spending time, getting involved in that side of things and keeping involved in the group.
“It’s important you look after these guys in these situations.
“The focus for him is 2025 and to come back really fit and really strong having not rushed back from this injury – because you just can’t when you have had multiple injuries of that type.
“You have to set your stall out to be patient and, hopefully, 2025 is a big year.”
It’s not the scenario Cohen would have envisaged, having joined last November.
But the left-arm bowler, 26 this Sunday, has time on his side to respond after the setback.
“It’s not perfect because he would have loved to have kick-started this year with a big bang at a new county,” added Walker. “He worked really hard in the winter to get himself into a good spot.
“He’s exciting. I think we have found a little diamond there that could have made a real impact.
“Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be. I’m sure he will use that frustration into getting himself really strong and right.
“He’s got a long time to wait but, I hope, when it comes around to this time next year, he’s out there playing – or close to playing – and ready to have a really big season.”
There has been a mixed start to Kent Spitfires’ Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign from their opening two games.
They edged a pulsating match against Lancashire in Blackpool by five runs as leg-spinner Matt Parkinson held his nerve at the death when facing his old club on Sunday.
Parkinson bowled Ollie Sutton from the second ball of the final over to finish with figures of 4-30 from Lancashire’s 204 all out, Australian overseas bowler Charlie Stobo brilliantly running out Charlie Barnard to conclude the penultimate over, while South African overseas all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel (3-26) also did well in the field.
That came after wicketkeeper Harry Finch had top scored with 48 during Kent’s innings.
Spitfires had been beaten by Somerset at Taunton last Friday.
There were half-centuries from opening batsman Joey Evison (55) and Italian international all-rounder Grant Stewart (51) in their 267 all out.
In Somerset’s successful response, Swanepoel (2-32) led the way, but the hosts reached 270-7 in the 47th over.
Kent, due to play Hampshire at Beckenham today, take on Middlesex at the same venue this Sunday.
They then visit Worcestershire next Wednesday.
Batting all-rounder Marcus O’Riordan returns from illness and is in the 13-strong squad for the game against Hampshire.
Squad: Leaning, Jaydn Denly, Evison, Finch, Garrett, Gilchrist, O’Riordan, Parkinson, Qadri, E.Singh, Stewart, Stobo, Swanepoel.
