Kent held their end-of-season awards dinner at The Spitfire Ground on Wednesday night.
It proved a largely forgettable summer for the men’s side but, nonetheless, the event provided an opportunity to look back on the successes which had been enjoyed during the 2024 season despite suffering County Championship Division 1 relegation.
Harry Finch received more than 35% of member and supporter votes to be named men’s club player-of-the-year.
The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman scored a List A century against Durham in Canterbury in August as he averaged more than 34.5 with the bat and claimed 47 dismissals behind the stumps in 31 appearances.
Captain Daniel Bell-Drummond retained two awards from the 2023 season. He was crowned batsman-of-the-year and players’ player-of-the-year once more.
All-rounder Joey Evison, 22, was again named young player-of-the-year while vice-captain Jack Leaning was also selected as fielder-of-the-year for the second season running.
Matt Parkinson was named bowler-of-the-year after his first full campaign at Kent despite struggling to find his best form.
T20 Blast skipper Sam Billings, who scored his first career T20 century in a Vitality Blast match against Somerset at The Spitfire Ground, was named as the Spitfire white-ball player-of-the-year.
England international Zak Crawley’s 238 against Somerset in May was Kent men’s moment-of-the-year – even though it came in a losing cause at Taunton.
For Kent Women, Genevieve Jeer collected the moment-of-the-year gong alongside her club player-of-the-year accolade – her match-winning performance against Middlesex at Polo Farm, with five wickets and 48 with the bat, a part of a big season for the talented young all-rounder.
Ella Darlington was revealed as batter-of-the-year after some incredible knocks this summer, including 150 not out against Hampshire.
Skipper Megan Belt was named bowler-of-the-year and Lucy Blincoe, who took four wickets on her first-team debut away at Essex, was named young player-of-the-year.
All-rounder Coco Streets picked up the fielder-of-the-year and players’ player-of-the-year awards.
As Kent players, staff, members, sponsors and stakeholders came together at the event which was sponsored by Shepherd Neame, the club said goodbye to departing head coach Matt Walker after eight years in the role.
Kent’s chair Jamie Clifford and red-ball skipper Bell-Drummond offered send-offs to him.
As well as looking back on 2024, the work the club continues to do in the local community was highlighted, as well as a look ahead to 2025 with director of cricket Simon Cook and Head of Talent Pathway Min Patel both giving their thoughts to Steve Watts, who hosted the event.
