Kent's overseas signing Glenton Stuurman will miss six weeks after injuring his thigh on debut.
Glenton Stuurman’s spell with Kent has ended early after a quad injury forced him off the field during his debut County Championship match.
The South African fast bowler had signed a six-game deal with the club but lasted just one outing.
He claimed five wickets in the game before limping off, with scans later revealing he would miss at least the next six weeks.
The abrupt departure cuts short his brief stint with Kent before it could gain momentum.
Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, admitted disappointment over Stuurman’s premature exit.
While praising the bowler’s positive influence in the dressing room, Cook reassured that the county has other seam options to fill the gap.
He highlighted Matt Quinn’s return from injury, Mikey Cohen’s full availability, and Grant Stewart’s potential comeback as reinforcements for the bowling attack.
Stuurman’s only appearance for Kent came against Durham in Division Two, where he finished with figures of 3-64 in the first innings and 2-43 in the second.
His efforts helped secure a draw, marking Kent’s second consecutive stalemate in their opening fixtures.
The match was a tight contest, ending with both teams unable to force a result.
The injury comes at a challenging time for Kent, who have now played two draws in a row to start the season.
Their next match takes them to Worcestershire, where they will look to break their duck after an underwhelming start.
The loss of Stuurman adds pressure on the squad to find consistency early in the campaign.
With Stuurman sidelined, Kent will rely on their remaining seamers to step up in the coming weeks.
Cook’s confidence in Quinn, Cohen, and Stewart suggests the team has depth, but early season struggles mean every performance will be closely scrutinized.
The club will hope for better fortunes as they face Worcestershire in their third County Championship fixture.