An Australian will make a Kent comeback for the entire of their 2026 Vitality Blast season.
Bowling all-rounder Tom Rogers, 31, becomes a Spitfire for a third T20 season in a row. He originally joined for the second half of the 2024 tournament before rejoining last year.
For Kent, the right-arm seamer and left-handed batsman has scored 96 runs and taken 13 wickets, as well as claiming 17 catches, in 17 appearances.
“I’m really excited to be returning to Canterbury for the Vitality Blast this summer,” said Rogers.
“The tournament’s changed a little bit and that means that we’ll be facing a couple of new teams, which is always exciting, and it’s also all in one ‘block’, which means I can be there for the knockouts if we get there, too.
“I can’t wait to meet up with the lads again and get back to work as a Spitfire.
“I know we’re all determined to push on and take another big step forward in the competition.”
It means Kent head coach Adam Hollioake has now completed his overseas recruitment for the Vitality Blast this summer, with South Africans Keith Dudgeon and Senuran Muthusamy also both available for Spitfires in the Blast.
England Cricket Board rules state three overseas players are permitted in a Blast squad, with two able to play together in any one starting line-up.
Director of cricket Simon Cook said: “We’re extremely pleased that Tom is coming back to Kent for another Vitality Blast season.
“He’s an experienced operator with proven big-match pedigree.
“His bowling partnership with Fred Klaassen inside the powerplay has been outstanding, delivering one of the lowest economy rates in domestic cricket during that phase. He also offers a dynamic, game-changing hitting option at any stage of the game.
“The squad is shaping up nicely, going into the season, and we hope to be competing for honours in all formats in 2026.”
Spitfires reached the Blast knockout stages last year before they lost by three wickets to Lancashire at Old Trafford.
The news of Rogers’ return comes the day after the county confirmed England opener Zak Crawley has extended his Kent deal for another season.
