Milne: Put me to the Test

New Zealand paceman Adam Milne hopes his three-month spell at Kent will be a stepping stone towards a future in Test cricket.

The 25-year-old is a regular in the Black Caps’ white-ball sides and is expected to have a big impact when the Spitfires begin their Natwest T20 Blast campaign on July 9.

However, Milne is just as keen to help Kent’s push for promotion and hopes playing in the last five games of the Specsavers County Championship campaign in late August and September will help him make the jump to securing a place in all formats.

He said: “I’m excited to be part of the Kent side and I’m looking forward to playing some T20 cricket and hopefully some Championship games as well.

“Back in New Zealand before the Champions Trophy and IPL, one of the high-performance guys from NZ cricket mentioned Kent were looking for a player. He’d mentioned my name and we started talking from there.

“There’s a great T20 tournament here and everyone considers the four-day stuff sort of a finishing school for guys looking to play Test cricket or challenge themselves.

“I’m definitely looking forward to that. I’d love to play Test cricket – it’s part of the motivation for coming and playing here.”

Milne said he was up to speed with Kent’s promotion push in Division 2 and added: “It’s a good side to be a part of. I know a couple of the players. Mitch Claydon played for my club side in New Zealand and I met Sam Billings at the IPL and England games.”

Milne is the fourth Kiwi to play for Kent after John Wright, Ian Butler and last season’s overseas, Tom Latham, who spoke glowingly of his early-season stint at Canterbury.

Milne added: “I talked to Tom Latham before I signed and asked what it was like. He said it was a good group of guys and coaches. He had full endorsement of the team, so I was happy to come.

“I’m always looking to put in good