Matt Parkinson has more reason than most to be excited to see Ben Dawkins and Ekansh Singh get first-team Kent chances – he’s coached them!
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dawkins has been given his first-class Kent debut during this week’s County Championship Division 2 match against leaders Leicestershire and was joined in Adam Hollioake’s injury-hit team by fellow 19-year-olds Jaydn Denly and Singh, both all-rounders.
It left leg-spinner Parkinson, 28, as one of Kent’s elder statesman alongside stand-in captain Grant Stewart.
“It does make me, Grant and Finchy (Harry Finch) feel a bit older when you have got Dawks and Ekansh playing,” he said. “But it’s great.
“They have come through the pathway.
“I’ve flicked at Ekansh for two years now in the Academy so, to have Ekansh, Jaydn and Dawks playing this week, is nice.”
Since joining Kent from Lancashire on a three-year deal in 2023, Parkinson has also dipped his toe into coaching their young crop.
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He said: “I’ve coached a little bit in the Academy.
“I have only been a pro with Jaydn so I cannot comment on him (in terms of his development from the youth-team to senior cricket). But Ekansh and Dawks, they work hard.
“They’re lovely lads and they always listen. They’re very funny lads, as well.
“That’s probably the main difference I’d say between the lads that don’t make it and those who do is probably the amount of work they put in.”
And Kent’s talented youngsters could be handed more opportunities in the near future, with the Royal London One-Day Cup coming up.
They will face Norfolk in a 50-over friendly on Monday, start their campaign against Sussex Sharks three days later and welcome Durham to Beckenham next Sunday.
“It’s nice at this stage of the season – I think you can see it around the circuit – a lot of those under-19s players are playing,” said Parkinson.
“It was nice to have Dawks, Ekansh and Jaydn playing. It’s lovely for the club, having three lads from the pathway, playing.
“Hopefully, we’ll see more of them in the next few weeks.”
Denly, Dawkins and Ekansh will hope to follow in the footsteps of talented opener Tawanda Muyeye and all-rounder Joey Evison in cementing places in Kent’s T20 Blast side, as well as the red-ball team. Both have recently penned new Kent deals.
Parkinson said: “They’re top fellas.
“Joey is class. I sit next to him in the changing room and he’s 23 – but you would think that he’s eight. He’s such a child!
“To have Joey, Tawanda and Ben (Compton) locked in, they’re the sort of cricketers that in the past probably would have been nicked.
“Keeping those three tied down along with the young crop – Ekansh, Jaydn and Dawkins, along with a few of the older boys – hopefully, that’ll be a nice mix.”
Parkinson started the Leicestershire match alongside Stewart, who became Kent captain for the first time in his career.
“It’s special,” he said. “He has played for Kent for a long time since 2017. He’s a similar character to Deebs.
“But they do have different styles. It was nice.”
The Italian international appeared to become the latest player added to Kent’s injury list, though, when he hobbled off on the first day of the match against Leicestershire.
When asked who that left in charge, Parkinson replied: “A bit of everyone.
“Finchy was skippering and did a great job. Obviously, it’s been tough, losing Deebs (Bell-Drummond) and, now, Grant.
“But it was fun with Finchy.”
Parkinson also denied Kent, already cut adrift in Division 2, are an ill-disciplined side – despite the county confirming they have received an eight-point Championship penalty on Tuesday.
“No,” he said. “I think we have some emotional cricketers but I wouldn’t say we’re ill-disciplined. I’d say I’ve played in a lot worse teams and not got in trouble.
“I played at Lancashire for 10 years, mate, and we were horrendous! We never got a points deduction so I think it’s just been a couple of incidents that were quite minor.
“I kicked the floor and that was one of our Level Ones. There’s a couple of batting decisions that you don’t like and you react.
“I think it’s quite strict. It’s not something we’re going to lose sleep over.
“It’s done now and there’s nothing we can do to change it.”
Kent’s most recent “individual fixed penalty” was given against skipper Bell-Drummond for his reaction to his second-innings dismissal in last week’s five-wicket defeat to Glamorgan.
Video footage shows that the ball had come off Bell-Drummond’s helmet and a minimal reaction after the umpire’s decision.
Ironically, Parkinson’s penalty had come in the innings loss to Glamorgan in May, with Pakistan overseas player Kashif Ali and Muyeye penalised, as well, in the same month.
Asked if there are more rules now, Parkinson responded: “There might be. They might have added a few more in.
“It definitely feels easier to get a Level One. I wouldn’t say we’re an ill-disciplined side.
“I think we’re one of the nicest sides I’ve ever played in! I don’t think it fits the group to have minus points but, when you’re struggling for results and decisions don’t go your way, tempers do flare.
“We’re only human, aren’t we? There have been a couple of Level Ones that have been big turning points in games.
“I think back to last week, Deebs’ one where he got hit on the head and had a dent in his helmet. That’s a Level One that takes us over the breach and was a massive moment in the game.
“We were flying at that stage so that’s probably where the emotion comes in. But I wouldn’t say we’re an ill-disciplined side.
“We have just had four mess-ups.”
