Kent County Cricket Club has bolstered its bowling attack with the signing of Australian seamer Charlie Stobo as overseas cover for Wes Agar, Xavier Bartlett, and Beyers Swanepoel. The 29-year-old Stobo, who has a proven track record in the Sheffield Shield with Western Australia, has inked a deal that runs from May 20 to September 16, encompassing all formats of the game.
Stobo’s arrival comes amidst a shortage of fast-bowling options for Kent. The club was dealt a blow when Cricket Australia altered the conditions of Bartlett’s No-Objection Certificate, preventing him from participating in the County Championship. To address this, Kent has already secured the services of South African seamer Swanepoel, who is set to join the squad for their Championship match against Lancashire on Friday.
Stobo, despite being uncapped at international level and lacking T20 experience, qualifies to play professionally in the UK due to an ancestry visa. His signing is a testament to Kent’s proactive approach to player recruitment, as they seek to navigate the challenges posed by the ECB’s new regulations allowing counties to register up to four overseas players simultaneously.
Simon Cook, Kent’s director of cricket, expressed his delight at Stobo’s acquisition. “We’ve been monitoring Charlie for some time now, and we’re thrilled to have him on board for a significant portion of our season,” Cook said. “We believe he possesses the attributes to succeed at Canterbury and will enhance our squad depth, enabling us to rotate players, particularly bowlers, to optimize their workloads and maximize their potential.”
Stobo, for his part, is eager to join his fellow Australians at Kent. “I’m excited to connect with some familiar faces, contribute to the Aussie presence with Wes Agar and Xavier Bartlett, and be part of a talented squad,” Stobo said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to play for Kent, which presents a new and exciting challenge for me.”
Both Stobo and Swanepoel will be available for Kent’s Metro Bank Cup campaign, which commences in late July. Their signings underscore Kent’s determination to compete on all fronts this season, as they aim to build on their recent successes in the County Championship and Vitality Blast.
