Adams: We can be a real force

‘We want to see players growing into their roles’

Head coach Jimmy Adams says Kent can be a force to be reckoned with this summer if their young players continue to progress and gel with the new signings.

After the majority of his squad gathered for the start of pre-season this week, the former West Indies skipper is again targeting success in all three formats, with the youthful nucleus of his side boosted by the acquisitions of South African paceman Kagiso Rabada and Kiwi opener Tom Latham for much of the summer.

Adams (pictured) said: “At this time of year hope always springs eternal.

“The bigger picture is we want to see players growing into their roles. I know the process is an ongoing one but you can see the upward curve. If we can put it all together, we can be a real force this year.”

Of his two overseas signings, Adams said: “I am pleased and happy to have them. They will bring energy and I am looking forward to them arriving. I have spoken to them and seen them play and in our group they will be a good fit.” He added: “We were approached by their r epr e s ent a t ive s saying they were available. They ticked all the right boxes so we sent it ‘upstairs’ to say can it be done financially. It came back that it could and we didn’t look back.”

Adams remained unfazed at Kent’s promotion hopes being halved by an ECB revamp for 2017, announced on Monday.

From next year, the Championship will be split into a top tier of eight teams and a second division of 10, meaning this year’s Division 2 runnersup will miss out on promotion.

Kent are striving to return to the top-flight for the first time since 2010 but Adams said: “It is the same for everybody and I’m sure everyone feels the same.

“It is a level playing field and there’s no point in one of nine teams saying something – it’s not going to change anything.”

“The main thing at this stage is for us to improve our red ball cricket significantly from where it was last year. We have the players.”