Kent legend and former England batsman 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, plus three seasons with Middlesex between 2012 and 2014, and represented England in all three formats.

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

Denly was called up by England almost 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 county player to score 5,000 T20 runs.

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

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

“I have been fortunate to share locker rooms with outstanding teammates, work with exceptional coaches and support staff and play in front of fans whose encouragement has meant a lot.

“Representing Kent has always been a source of immense pride. The club will always be my second home and I am 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 excellent servant to our county.

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