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Kent team director Paul Farbrace is backing opener Joe Denly to win his England place back

Joe Denly in training ahead of the fourth one day international between England and Australia at Lord's. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Joe Denly in training ahead of the fourth one day international between England and Australia at Lord's. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Paul Farbrace believes that Joe Denly has what it takes to win back his England spot.

The Kent opening batsman, 24 later this month, has dropped behind Jonathan Trott, England stand-in captain Alastair Cook and now newly-qualified South African-born Somerset wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter in the pecking order.

Denly (pictured) was out for one and five in the two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan in Dubai last month, and sat out both warm-up games in Bangladesh, with Cook partnered first by Kieswetter and then out-of-form Kevin Pietersen.

Kent team director Farbrace said: "Joe knows he hasn’t got enough runs, but I am sure he will come again. It’s a blow and a setback for him to lose his spot, but he is very strong-willed and has the character to know exactly what has to be done.

"He has certainly shown he can play at that level, and hasn’t looked out of his depth.

"He has good people around him, his dad Nick, David Fulton, and people like Rob Key, Martin van Jaarsveld and Geraint Jones, who have all been there and know exactly what you have to do.

"Playing for your country is a by-product of doing well at county level. He will come back, get stuck in and work hard. He is too good a talent not to play for England again."

Denly and team-mate James Tredwell, who made his one-day debut against Bangladesh on Tuesday, have both been named in England’s provisional 30-strong squad for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in May. The squad will be whittled down to 15 at the end of this month.

Farbrace also believed Darren Stevens had a good case to be included having been one of Kent’s most consistent performers in the shortest form of the game, but the 33-year old all-rounder missed out.

Former England fast bowler Geoff Arnold will again be part of Kent’s back-room team this summer. The former Surrey paceman has previously worked for Sussex and Essex.

Farbrace said: "Geoff will be with us for 100 days a year, but it will probably be much more than that.

"His passion for cricket and working with bowlers is huge, and his experience is invaluable."

Arnold is heading to Antigua to help Robbie Joseph continue his rehabilitation from a shoulder operation. Amjad Khan has been in Melbourne, with former Kent director of cricket Ian Brayshaw, Simon Cook is going to Hong Kong for three and a half weeks’ competitive cricket.

Picture: Barry Goodwin

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