KENT CRICKET SEASON PREVIEW

AllAllan DonaldDld wantst tto create t a ‘Test match environment’ in Kent’s Specsavers County Championship matches this season.

The former South African international took up the role of assistant coach at the club at the end of January.

Donald has 330 Test wickets to his name from 72 matches and will use that experience to get Kent performing in the longer format of the game.

He said: “We have spoken about creating a Test match environment in our group – seeing the next 14 Championship games as 14 Test matches we have to deal with.

“Not enough has been said in the first-class game about creating a Test match environment in four- day cricket and have them playing and thinking like Test cricketers.

“We know the game of Test cricket has moved forward in terms of run rate. A lot less maidens get bowled and good deliveries are being hit for four. It’s about scoring quickly and winning games with the bat in the first innings.

“I was happy with the bowling display against Surrey as we challenged people in the hot zone all day and went past the outside edge.

“With Matt Henry arriving, that will give us an extra edge in terms of his experience as an international cricketer.”

DDonald,ld 5151, flewfl straighttiht off ff to Antigua to lead Kent, with Min Patel, on their pre-season matches in the West Indies Regional Super50 Cup.

With pre-season over, he is looking forward to competitive cricket starting.

Donald said: “They are a nice bunch of guys and I’ve settled in as they have made me feel welcome.

“I was in one day and out the next to Antigua. That was a nice time to get to know everyone, to sit back and take notice of everyone.

“We had long talks in that month in Antigua where we started chatting about the Kent County Cricket Club culture and a lot of other things have come up and been laid on the table.

“Now we are almost at the business end of it. Two months to settle in and ready to go.”

Donald was initially meant to join up with the Kent squad for the 2017 season but visa issues delayed this until this year.

He added: “It was incredibly frustrating but that is life. Maybe the timing was right, I have got that stuff out the way now and have the levels that I needed to get.

“It’s just nice to be in Canterbury and what promises to be an exciting season ahead.

“It’s amazing as I feel like I know the team without seeing them, having been on the phone with Walks for over 12 months.”