Kent: Joe Denly announces he will retire at the end of the season

Kent legend and former England batter Joe Denly has announced he will retire at the end of the season.

Denly, 40, has played for Kent since 2004 when he was 18, apart from three seasons with Middlesex between 2012 and 2014, and represented England in all three formats.

His top Test score for England came in the drawn Ashes series in 2019 when he hit 94 at Headingley.

Denly was recalled by England nearly a decade after making his debut in 2009 and finishes with 15 Test appearances, 16 in one-day internationals and 13 in T20s.

He helped Kent win their first T20 trophy in 2007 and became the first player from the county to score 5,000 T20 runs.

Denly has more than 14,000 career runs and told the Kent website: "After an incredible journey in professional cricket, the time has come for me to announce my retirement from the game at the end of the 2026 campaign.

"Cricket has given me more than I could ever have imagined. From making my debut for Kent to representing England on the international stage, every moment has been a privilege.

"I've been fortunate to share dressing rooms with outstanding team-mates, work with exceptional coaches and support staff and play in front of fans whose encouragement has meant so much.

"Representing Kent has always been a source of immense pride. The club will always be my second home and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities, friendships, and memories it has given me."

He was the Professional Cricketers' Association player of the year in 2018 and won the most valuable player award.

Kent director of cricket Simon Cook said: "Joe has been an outstanding servant to our county.

"His record speaks for itself, and he will rightly be remembered as one of the modern greats of Kent cricket, having contributed with distinction across all formats over a vast period of time."

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