Kent tie down Milnes and Northeast until 2028 after promotion-winning season

Kent have triggered contract extension clauses for seamer Matt Milnes and experienced batter Sam Northeast, committing both players to the club until the end of the 2028 season.

The duo ended the 2026 campaign as Kent's stand-out performers, with Milnes topping the county's wicket charts on 54 wickets and Northeast leading the run-scoring with 890, as the club won promotion back to Division One of the County Championship.

Northeast, 36, and Milnes, 32, both rejoined Kent at the start of the 2026 season after spells at other counties, with Milnes returning to Canterbury following his time with Yorkshire. Their immediate impact in their first seasons back has now been rewarded with extended stays.

Cook delighted to secure key men

Kent director of cricket Simon Cook told the club website: "We're delighted with how both Sam and 'Milnesy' have performed in their first seasons back at Kent and we're extremely pleased they will now be Kent players until at least the end of 2028."

Extensions cap promotion-winning autumn

The contract news comes just over a week after Kent sealed their return to the top flight. As reported on 27 September, the county secured promotion to Division One with an eight-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Canterbury, confirmed after rivals Northamptonshire lost to Middlesex at Lord's.

Milnes was central to that clinching win, taking 5-33 as Gloucestershire were dismissed for 241, before Northeast (49 not out) and Zak Crawley (44) guided the hosts to their target of 118. Head coach Adam Hollioake hailed a "remarkable turnaround" after a poor start to the season.

With the club's leading wicket-taker and run-scorer now tied down until at least 2028, Kent can approach their first season back in Division One with the core of their promotion-winning side intact.