Kent Disable Social Media Comments Over Player Welfare Concerns

Kent County Cricket Club have taken the unusual step of disabling the comment functions on their social media accounts as part of a duty of care to the county's players.

Kent were relegated from Division One of the County Championship in 2024 and, after Adam Hollioake arrived as head coach last year, they then finished bottom of Division Two in 2025. They are winless in three Championship matches at the beginning of this season and again lie bottom of the second tier.

In a statement ahead of Friday's home match against Derbyshire, Hollioake said: "This has not been a decision we have taken lightly and we are by no means stopping people voicing their opinions.

"The majority of our supporters are behind us and criticise us fairly but when this crosses the line, this can be damaging to not only the players but their friends, family and loved ones."

Kent have more than 104,000 followers on their X account and in excess of 64,000 on Instagram. The club has not specified how long the suspension will be in place. It said supporters can give feedback via email and at members' forums, one of which will take place on the first day of the game against Derbyshire at Canterbury.

It is common for individual athletes or sportspeople to not have social media accounts or to avoid them during significant competitions. But it is rare, possibly unprecedented, for a whole club to suspend the opportunity for supporters to engage on social media.

"This short-term move aligns with our short-term strategy to allow players and staff to work and play with freedom and clarity," said a Kent statement. "We support each other as a whole club, in line with our core values of unity, respect and responsibility."

Along with poor results on the field, Kent have also lost several key players in recent years. Ollie Robinson left for Durham and fellow wicketkeeper Jordan Cox joined Essex. In the past winter, seamer Nathan Gilchrist went to Warwickshire and batter Jack Leaning made the short move to Sussex.

In their three Championship matches this season, Kent have been bowled out for less than 250 on four occasions. After the innings defeat at Worcestershire last week, Hollioake highlighted the batting as a source of concern.

Much attention falls on opener Zak Crawley, who seems destined to lose his England place after a poor Ashes in Australia. Crawley's highest score in the Championship so far this season is 31.

Hollioake, 54, is a legendary figure at Surrey, the county he captained. He played four Tests for England and had a spell as one-day captain. In 2002, Hollioake's brother Ben, also an England all-rounder, died at the age of 24 in a car accident in Australia.

Adam Hollioake was a Surrey and England team-mate of Graham Thorpe, who took his own life in 2024 following a long struggle with mental health problems. Hollioake was also close to former England batter Robin Smith, who battled alcoholism before his death late last year.

"Throughout my career in cricket as a player and a coach, I've had to deal with a lot, that's no secret," said Hollioake. "I've seen in recent times two players and friends that I played alongside for England go down a bad path in terms of mental health and I've lost both of them.

"It's part of my job and my duty of care to make sure we don't see that again."