George Linde adds reliable spin option to Kent ranks after signing two-year deal

Linde, who has been capped in all formats by South Africa, has penned a contract which incorporates all three formats at Canterbury

South African allrounder George Linde will join Kent on a two-year contract, starting this summer.

Linde, who has been capped in all formats by his country, has signed a deal which incorporates all three formats at Canterbury.

His left-arm spin, which has brought 214 career first-class wickets at less than 25 apiece, will provide Kent with a reliable option both to support the seam unit in the County Championship, and deliver a real wicket threat.

The club's leading spin bowler in the Championship in 2021 was James Logan, who impressed on trial in June to earn a two-month contract which became a two-year deal in July.

^{George Linde has signed a two-year contract with Kent (Randy Brooks/AFP via Getty Images)}

Logan took eight wickets at less than 15 apiece, but the fact Joe Denly - the part-time legspinner - bowled more red-ball deliveries than any other Kent spinner last year underlines the need for improvements in that department.

He is no slouch with the bat, either, having made four first-class centuries over the course of his career. His first-class average of 30.16 will add substantial weight to the Kent lower middle order.

Linde's arrival means Kent will go into the T20 Blast in 2022 with two overseas spinners: Qais Ahmad - the Afghanistan international - has already signed on for the whole of the campaign in June and July. 

GEORGE LINDE: CAREER STATS

First-class: 60 matches, 2,383 runs (ave 30.16), 214 wickets (ave 24.26)

List A: 64 matches, 1,1793 runs (ave 24.95), 89 wickets (ave 28.78)

T20: 100 matches, 904 runs (s/r 138.43), 105 wickets (eco 7.31)

Linde, 30, has 14 T20I caps for South Africa, and a career T20 economy of 7.31 with the ball.

He is, at present, expected to be available for the Royal London Cup as well.

International commitments could interrupt Linde's time at Kent - in 2022, South Africa have a T20 trip to India scheduled for June, as well as an all-format trip of England and Wales in high summer - but Linde is on the peripheries of Proteas selection.

^{Linde adds a quality spin option and ability with the bat (Charle Lombard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)}

Paul Downton, the Kent director of cricket, said: "We are delighted to have signed a player of George’s calibre for the coming two seasons.

"We have long identified the need for an experienced, high quality spin bowler to balance our side in all formats, and the fact that George is an accomplished left-handed middle-order batter makes his addition to the squad even more exciting.

"We believe that George will make us a more competitive side as we aim to compete on all fronts next season, and look forward to welcoming him into the Kent Cricket family."

Linde said: "This is an exciting opportunity for me to play county cricket for the first time in my career.

"I'm really looking forward to wearing the Kent shirt with pride and to make my own mark on this club's history."

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