KENT · team desk
Kent Spitfires Team: Squad, Results, Stats & Schedule
Kent Spitfires' complete 2026 Vitality Blast hub: the documented 21-player signed group and match participants; every South Group and crossover score; fourth-place finish; Sam Billings' 385 runs, Matt Milnes' 14 wickets and Grant Stewart's leading two-skill return; Sam Billings and Adam Hollioake's leadership; the full official coaching group; St Lawrence Ground context; the 2007 and 2021 titles; 2024 and 2025 comparisons; and official Kent Cricket channels.
Canterbury, Kent, England
KENT
Vitality Blast champions · 2007 and 2021 · 2025 quarter-finalists
- Captain
- Sam Billings · men's T20 captain
- Head coach
- Adam Hollioake · Kent Men's Head Coach
- Home
- St Lawrence Ground
- Founded
- 1842 · Kent County Cricket Club · Spitfires T20 identity since 2003
Team overview
Kent Spitfires at a glance
Kent Spitfires are the men's T20 identity of Kent County Cricket Club, one of England and Wales' 18 professional county clubs. Kent introduced the Spitfires limited-overs nickname in 1999 and retains it as the official men's Vitality Blast name in 2026.
Kent finished fourth in the six-team 2026 South Group with four wins, eight losses, 16 points and a -0.895 net run rate. The new three-group format sent the top two in each group and the two best third-place teams to the quarter-finals, so fourth place ended Kent's campaign after 12 matches.
Sam Billings captained all 12 matches and led the batting with 385 runs at a 167.39 strike rate. Matt Milnes took a team-high 14 wickets, while Grant Stewart supplied the leading combined return with 90 runs and six wickets.
The 2026 result followed a quarter-final run in 2025 and a ninth-place finish in 2024. Kent's two men's domestic T20 titles came in 2007 and 2021, with Billings captaining the 2021 champions.
Completed group stage4TH
Fourth in South Group
The final ECB table records four wins, eight losses, 16 points and NRR -0.895. Kent finished fourth and did not qualify under the 2026 format; there were no tied or abandoned matches.
Performance leaders
Kent Spitfires' 2026 Vitality Blast team leaders
Figures cover Kent's complete 12-match 2026 group campaign. The all-round cards are transparent runs-and-wickets summaries rather than an official player-of-the-season award.
Top run-scorer385 runsSam Billings
Twelve innings · average 42.78 · strike rate 167.39 · four fifties · highest 84 not out
Zak Crawley
Twelve innings · strike rate 138.50 · 23 fours and 11 sixes
Matt Milnes
Eleven matches · 232 balls · Kent's only bowler above ten wickets
Second wicket-taker9 wicketsJake Lintott
Played all 12 matches after joining Kent for the 2026 campaign
Grant Stewart
Eight matches · batting strike rate 130.43 · 122 balls bowled
Impact all-round return69 runs · 3 wicketsDian Forrester
Three matches · batting average 69.00 · bowling economy 6.60
Highest individual scoreSam Billings84* vs Middlesex
Best bowlingTom Rogers4/39 vs Middlesex
Highest team total208/6 vs MiddlesexWon by 27 runs
Completed scores
All 12 Kent Spitfires scores in Vitality Blast 2026
The complete 2026 record contains ten South Group fixtures and two crossover matches: four wins and eight losses, with no tie or no-result. Fourth place produced no quarter-final fixture.
| Result | Date | Opponent & venue | Scores | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Match Group match 1 | MiddlesexLord's, London | KENT 208/6 (20 overs)Middlesex 181/8 (20 overs) | Won by 27 runs |
| W | Match Group match 2 | Sussex SharksSt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | KENT 199/3 (18.2 overs)Sussex Sharks 197/6 (20 overs) | Won by 7 wickets |
| L | Match Group match 3 | EssexSt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | KENT 129/9 (20 overs)Essex 130/1 (13.4 overs) | Lost by 9 wickets |
| W | Match Group match 4 | SurreyThe Oval, London | KENT 118/2 (14 overs)Surrey 116 all out (19.5 overs) | Won by 8 wickets |
| L | Match Group match 5 | Sussex SharksCounty Ground, Hove | KENT 133/8 (20 overs)Sussex Sharks 135/3 (17.2 overs) | Lost by 7 wickets |
| L | Match Group match 6 | EssexAmbassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford | KENT 184/9 (20 overs)Essex 187/6 (20 overs) | Lost by 3 runs |
| L | Match Crossover match | Notts OutlawsSt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | KENT 184/7 (20 overs)Notts Outlaws 187/6 (18.4 overs) | Lost by 4 wickets |
| W | Match Group match 8 | Hampshire HawksSt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | KENT 177/3 (18.4 overs)Hampshire Hawks 176/6 (20 overs) | Won by 7 wickets |
| L | Match Crossover match | Worcestershire RapidsNew Road, Worcester | KENT 59 all out (14.1 overs)Worcestershire Rapids 142/7 (20 overs) | Lost by 83 runs |
| L | Match Group match 10 | Hampshire HawksUtilita Bowl, Southampton | KENT 171 all out (19.2 overs)Hampshire Hawks 190/3 (20 overs) | Lost by 19 runs |
| L | Match Group match 11 | SurreySt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | KENT 102 all out (17 overs)Surrey 106/1 (8.5 overs) | Lost by 9 wickets |
| L | Match Group match 12 | MiddlesexSt Lawrence Ground, Canterbury | KENT 158/7 (20 overs)Middlesex 172/6 (20 overs) | Lost by 14 runs |
Documented 2026 signed group and T20 participants
Kent Spitfires 2026 Vitality Blast squad
This 21-player season group combines Kent's announced T20 overseas and senior signings with every player documented in the completed 2026 Blast statistics. Senuran Muthusamy remains listed as a signed full-season overseas all-rounder even though the final Blast statistics record no appearance; Hasan Mahmud and Dian Forrester are included because they played during the campaign. It is narrower than Kent's full multi-format county directory.
Batters
Wicketkeeper-batters
WK-BatterSam BillingsAll-Rounders
All-RounderDian Forrester
All-RounderSenuran MuthusamyBowlers
BowlerJake LintottCompetition record
League and season history
Kent have contested England's domestic men's T20 competition since its 2003 launch and play it under the Spitfires identity. They won the tournament in 2007 and 2021. From 2026 the One Day Cup side is styled Kent Men, while Kent Spitfires remains the official Vitality Blast name; the separate Kent Women record is not merged here.
| Season | Finish | Record | Top scorer | Most wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4th · South Group | 4 wins · 8 losses | Sam Billings · 385 | Matt Milnes · 14 |
| 2025 | 4th · South Group · quarter-final | 7 wins · 7 losses · 1 no-result overall | Tawanda Muyeye · 516 | Fred Klaassen / Nathan Gilchrist · 15 |
| 2024 | 9th · South Group | 4 wins · 10 losses | Daniel Bell-Drummond · 373 | Matt Parkinson · 16 |
Team operations
KENT coaching and support staff
Simon Cook
Leads Kent's professional cricket strategy and confirmed the 2026 men's coaching structure.
Adam Hollioake
Appointed through at least the end of 2027 and led the 2026 men's programme.
Jaahid Ali
Moved into the permanent first-team batting role for 2026 while retaining pathway-development responsibilities.
Sam Faulkner
Provides first-team bowling support and works across Kent's academy and talent pathway.
Darren Stevens
Returned to work exclusively with the professional men's bowlers for 2026.
Sam Billings
Kent's format-specific captain and leading run-scorer in all 12 Blast matches.
Home venue
St Lawrence Ground
Canterbury, EnglandAll six Kent home fixtures in the 2026 Vitality Blast were staged at St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. The venue is also widely known by its sponsored Spitfire Ground name; Kent's fixture and media pages currently use St Lawrence Ground. County Ground, Beckenham remains another Kent venue but did not host the men's 2026 Blast home programme.
Open the official venue source ↗Team news
Latest KENT updates
Official club and opponent match coverage is shown. The season is complete, so speculative transfer reports and unrelated County Championship or One Day Cup updates are excluded.
Final result · 12 Jul 2026
Middlesex defeat Kent in the final group match at Canterbury
Read at Kent Cricket ↗Home schedule · 17 Feb 2026Kent confirm all six Blast home fixtures at St Lawrence Ground
Read at Kent Cricket ↗Opening win · 22 May 2026Billings opens the campaign with an unbeaten 84 at Lord's
Read at Middlesex CCC ↗Overseas signing · 13 Feb 2026Tom Rogers returns for the full 2026 Vitality Blast
Read at Kent Cricket ↗Captain · 10 Dec 2025Sam Billings extends his Kent white-ball contract through 2027
Read at Kent Cricket ↗Official destinations
KENT website and social handles
Use these direct links to avoid fan accounts and lookalike profiles.
Official club websitekentcricket.co.ukOfficial destination ↗Official X@kentcricketOfficial destination ↗Official FacebookkentcricketOfficial destination ↗Official Instagram@kentcricketOfficial destination ↗Official YouTubeKent CricketOfficial destination ↗Official TikTok@kentcricketOfficial destination ↗
Reader questions
Kent Spitfires FAQ
Where did Kent Spitfires finish in the 2026 Vitality Blast?
Kent finished fourth in the six-team South Group with four wins, eight losses, 16 points and NRR -0.895, so they did not qualify for the quarter-finals.
Who captained Kent Spitfires in 2026?
Sam Billings was Kent's men's T20 captain and led all 12 matches.
Who scored the most Kent Spitfires runs in 2026?
Sam Billings led Kent with 385 runs at an average of 42.78 and strike rate of 167.39, including four fifties.
Who took the most Kent Spitfires wickets in 2026?
Matt Milnes led Kent with 14 wickets in 11 matches; Jake Lintott was second with nine.
Who was Kent's leading all-rounder in the 2026 Blast?
Grant Stewart recorded the leading combined return with 90 runs and six wickets; Dian Forrester added 69 runs and three wickets in three matches.
Who coaches Kent Spitfires?
Adam Hollioake is Kent Men's Head Coach, supported by Jaahid Ali, Sam Faulkner and bowling consultant Darren Stevens under Director of Cricket Simon Cook.
Where do Kent Spitfires play home matches?
All six men's 2026 Vitality Blast home fixtures were played at St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.
Who owns Kent Spitfires?
Kent Spitfires are the men's T20 team of member-owned Kent County Cricket Club, not a privately owned franchise.
How many T20 titles have Kent Spitfires won?
Kent have won two men's domestic T20 titles, in 2007 and 2021.
Why are they called Kent Spitfires?
Kent introduced the Spitfires limited-overs nickname in 1999. It remains the official men's Vitality Blast name in 2026.
What are Kent Cricket's official social handles?
Kent's official website links @kentcricket on X, Instagram and TikTok, kentcricket on Facebook, and the Kent Cricket YouTube channel.
References
Sources for this team page
Updated 2026-08-10. Kent and ECB sources establish the competition identity, format, standings, leadership, coaching and venue. The completed statistical ledger verifies 2026 and recent-season leaders. The 21-player directory distinguishes signed squad members from players who actually appeared, and all 12 scores are aligned with the closed local fixture archive.
01
ECBFinal 2026 South Group table, points and net run rate
Open ↗02Kent CricketOfficial 2026 competition format, home programme and two T20 titles
Open ↗03Kent CricketOfficial men's coaching structure for 2026
Open ↗04Kent CricketSam Billings' T20 captaincy and contract status
Open ↗05Kent CricketOfficial 2026 media guide, head coach and St Lawrence Ground context
Open ↗06Kent CricketSpitfires identity and 2026 one-day naming distinction
Open ↗07Kent CricketTom Rogers' official role and 2026 T20 contract
Open ↗08Kent CricketSenuran Muthusamy's 2026 all-format signing
Open ↗09myKhelCompleted 2026 batting and bowling statistics used for team leaders
Open ↗10ECBFinal 2025 South Group table
Open ↗11Kent Cricket2025 quarter-final result at Lancashire
Open ↗12ECBFinal 2024 South Group table
Open ↗