“It's an absolute joke”: Jack Leaning takes a swipe at the schedule of domestic matches

The seasoned campaigner of the Kent County team, Jack Leaning, has accused the County's decision-makers of ignoring the mental well-being of the players participating in the domestic tournaments. 

Leaning's swipe comes after the announcement of dates for the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast 2022. The dates for these crucial knock-out matches are fixed for July 7-10. 

However, the new round of the County Championship will get underway on July 11, which will not give the players enough time to rest and prepare their mindset for the Tests. 

It has been the case throughout the 2022 domestic season, where matches from both tournaments have been scheduled in the space of two-three days. In addition, the Royal London Cup and The Hundred will also be played in the coming months. 

Leaning thinks the entire schedule is miscalculated and considers it an absolute joke. Furthermore, he believes it is hard for the players to deliver their best performance with constant switching in the formats. 

"I personally think it's an absolute joke," said Leaning according to Kent Online. "I think it's a bit of a shambles, to be honest.

"As players, we're expected to just dart between the two formats with very little rest and to perform at our best is hard. I think sometimes the powers that be - I imagine there's a lot more things that go on - but they want to get as many people in.

"I appreciate there sometimes needs to be red-ball cricket around for people going to England or to appease members, but from a player's perspective it's bloody difficult."

Leaning revealed that they returned at 4 am after playing a T20 Blast game to feature in a County Championship game on the same day. 

"Last week we got back at 4 am from Somerset for a T20 and then we're having to play a Championship game the next morning," he added. "It's just stupid.

"To jump between the two is hard enough when you've got injuries and you're in the middle of a season anyway, let alone trying to do it with a depleted squad."

Leaning is the stand-in captain for the Kent County team in the absence of Sam Billings, who is playing for England in the ongoing fixture against India.