Kentish Express Ashford & District
Walker honoured to get the top job
Kent cricket
New Kent head coach Matt Walker says he is honoured to be handed the role and looking forward to working with one of the ‘all-time greats’ in Allan Donald.
Donald was unveiled as Walker’s assistant on Thursday afternoon as Kent revealed who would be replacing Jimmy Adams, who returned to the Caribbean before Christmas after five seasons at the helm, three of them with Walker as assistant. Walker, 43, said: ‘It’s an honour. I’m proud to have played for Kent for 16 seasons. I grew up as a Kent lad. I have always been honoured and humbled to have had such a long career and it was a privilege to play for the county I love and grew up in. I’m flattered and grateful for the opportunity to get my teeth stuck into this role.”
Walker added: “It seems mad. In 1992 when I started out on this journey, the thought that I might be head coach here all these years later. It’s hard to sink in at the moment.
“I went for the job because I feel I can make a difference and can take this club on to hopefully great things.
“I didn’t just go for the job because of natural progression or to show ambition. I felt now was the right time to work with this group of players.
“I have helped develop them and improve them for three years, now hopefully I can take them on.”
Walker revealed he was looking
‘I felt now was the right time to work with this group of players’
forward to working with South African legend Donald.
He said: “He went for the head coach role and obviously didn’t get it but the club were keen to get him involved in some aspect.
“He seems to be keen to be involved in Kent and likes where we’re going.
“The bottom line is we have one of the all-time great cricketers on board. He’s coached at pretty high levels with various bowling groups.
“It’s great to have a man of that calibre on board. If you’re not inspired by working with someone like Allan Donald, then you’re probably in the wrong job.”