Darren Stevens describes "bittersweet" emotion as Kent exit is confirmed

The allrounder has become a cult hero on the county circuit following a late-career renaissance in recent seasons, however form and injuries have conspired to make the 2022 campaign much less prolific

Kent have confirmed Darren Stevens' imminent departure after 17 years at the club.

The allrounder has become a cult hero on the county circuit following a late-career renaissance in recent seasons, however form and injuries have conspired to make the 2022 campaign much less prolific.

And, at the age of 46, Stevens will leave Canterbury in the autumn. He is currently suffering from a calf problem, sustained during a Royal London Cup game against Glamorgan, but could return to feature in the club's remaining County Championship matches.

^{Darren Stevens is to leave Kent at the end of the season [Getty Images]}

"It's bittersweet that my time at Kent has finally come to an end after such a long run. I am so proud to have lived out my boyhood dream with such a phenomenal club. The memories will stay with me forever," he said.

"I have been fortunate to have played with some of the greats of the game and created lifelong friendships. I am so grateful for being able to do what I love for so long and, during that time, achieve so many success stories for both myself and the club."

Stevens - a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2021 - won two T20 Blast titles with Kent, and he has scored more than 22,000 runs and taken over 850 wickets for the club. 

^{Stevens has spent 17 years at Kent [Getty Images]}

He wants to continue to play county cricket, though whether another club is willing to invest in a player of his age on a new contract is unclear at this stage. 

Director of cricket Paul Downton praised Stevens, saying: "He will quite rightly be remembered as one of the players that defined a generation of Kent Cricket.

"It is unthinkable that a player of his talent was never selected to play international cricket."