Can Kent push for promotion after faith healer 'wards off evil spirits'?

Canterbury, England – Kent’s route back to Division One may have begun in the most unlikely of places: a winter visit from a “non-denominational geopathic surveyor” enlisted by head coach Adam Hollioake to, in the county’s own words, “ward off evil spirits” after two seasons blighted by injury and relegation.

The ritual, confirmed by the club, has raised eyebrows across the circuit, yet after Kent won only three red-ball matches in 2024 and 2025 combined and finished bottom of Division Two last summer, officials insist any psychological lift is welcome. With the new campaign looming, the question is whether the exorcism of misfortune can translate into points on the table.

On paper, Kent have reason for guarded optimism. Zak Crawley is expected to be available for much of the early season, while the return of Sam Northeast—absent from Canterbury since 2017—adds experience to a batting order that also features Tawanda Muyeye, Ben Compton, Daniel Bell-Drummond and England Under-19 prodigy Ben Dawkins. Matt Milnes has re-signed from Yorkshire to bolster a seam attack depleted by Nathan Gilchrist’s departure to Warwickshire, and South African all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy will arrive in late May to partner recalled left-arm spinner Keith Dudgeon, fit again after a knee complaint cut short his 2025 stint.

Even so, Kent start 2026 in a division stacked with promotion heavyweights. Durham, relegated in extraordinary fashion last term—bowled out for 85 by Yorkshire on the final afternoon—boast a pace battery of Kemar Roach, Ben Raine, Matthew Potts and rising left-armer James Minto, plus a batting card headlined by Emilio Gay, Ben McKinney, Alex Lees and David Bedingham. Lancashire, humbled into fifth place in 2025, have turned to club legends Steven Croft and James Anderson as coach and captain respectively, and added Gloucestershire quick Ajeet Singh Dale to an attack that will also showcase a fully fit Rocky Flintoff.

Derbyshire, third last season, believe their time has come. Mickey Arthur has secured Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas to partner Luis Reece, who claimed 50 Division Two wickets in 2025, while Shoaib Bashir begins a reset after his Somerset exit. Caleb Jewell and Wayne Madsen anchor the batting, with Nottinghamshire import Matt Montgomery adding depth.

Worcestershire, down from Division One, need support for run-machine Jake Libby, while the arrival—or not—of South African Beyers Swanepoel remains unresolved after he left the field mid-match in a domestic fixture back home. Middlesex have opted for stability, appointing Peter Fulton as coach, but lost Stevie Eskinazi to Leicestershire and will rely on youngsters Noah Cornwell and Sebastian Morgan to complement Ryan Higgins and Toby Roland-Jones.

Northamptonshire have been the division’s busiest shoppers, recruiting Australian Nathan McSweeney, all-rounder Louis Kimber and leg-spinner Calvin Harrison, with Yuzvendra Chahal set for a late-season cameo. If Saif Zaib repeats his 2025 heroics—1,425 runs, the most in the country—Northants could surprise.

At the other end of expectations sit Gloucestershire, stripped of a glut of seamers: Singh Dale, Archie Bailey, Zaman Akhter, Dom Goodman, Tom Price and Josh Shaw have all departed. Cameron Bancroft and James Bracey offer batting hope, yet the attack, led by Will Williams and the returning Craig Miles, faces a season-long examination.

Whether Kent’s supernatural pre-season intervention proves a quirky footnote or a turning point will be decided on pitches, not planchettes. But with fresh faces, fit-again quicks and, presumably, fewer evil spirits lurking at St Lawrence, Hollioake’s side have at last given supporters something else to believe in.