Middlesex opener Scott Newman joins Kent on loan

Middlesex opening batsman Scott Newman has joined Kent on loan for the first two months of the season. Newman, 32, joined Middlesex in 2009 but fell down the pecking order after the arrival of Joe Denly from Kent. "I am really pleased to be joining Kent for the opening months of the season," said Newman. "I look forward to hopefully playing regular first team cricket and contributing to a successful start to 2012 for the club." Newman, who has also played for Notts and Surrey, has scored almost 8,500 first-class runs during his career at an average of 38, including 16 centuries. Coach Jimmy Adams added: "We are really pleased that the agreement for the loan has been reached with Middlesex and we now hope that Scott will do very well for Kent. "He will join us for pre-season when the squad returns from Antigua and remain with the squad for the whole of April and May." Newman is expected to stand in for Daniel Bell-Drummond, who misses the start of the season because of England Under-19 duty.