Walker feels Riley’s pain

Kent head coach Matt Walker admits his heart breaks for Adam Riley and his decline as a dominant spinner.

Riley left Kent by mutual consent last week after nine seasons at the county.

The 27-year-old picked up 14 wickets in his debut season after signing in 2011, before emerging as first choice in the four-day format with 48 wickets in 15 outings in 2014. Walker admitted: “When any player leaves the club it’s always a tough time, especially a Kent lad like Adam who has come through the ranks.

“When you talk about people like Adam Riley you talk about one of the finest blokes around. That always makes it slightly harder really, he’s a complete professional and never let anybody down.

“He’s a top bloke, he’s worked very hard, he just gets on with it and has always given his best to the club.”

Riley spent time away with the England Lions in South Africa in 2015, where coaches tinkered with his action in order to add more speed to his delivery.

He has since been unable to revert to the technique that once saw him touted as a future England spinner.

Walker added: “I don’t think he ever really recovered from it. From then onwards he was always battling to try and get back to where he was when he had that brilliant year. It’s a tough story and one that is hard to take.

“It was a white-ball camp and the reasons behind what they were trying to do with Adam I don’t agree with personally, but it happened.

“I’m sure it was all very well meaning but the technical aspect of the change was so dramatic that, in my opinion, he lost all the qualities he had as a bowler. He just couldn’t go back to what he did before. It breaks your heart.”