AND PUNISH TEAMS WITH BAT AND BALL

Matt Walker says Kent are starting to develop the sort of mentality they need to be successful but he believes they can still be more ruthless.

Monday’s 147-run victory over Sussex at Tunbridge Wells was a fourth in five Specsavers County Championship matches and head coach Walker said Kent displayed many of the qualities they will need if they are to remain in the Division 2 promotion race.

From 115- 4 in the first innings they recovered to make 369 and twice dismissed Sussex with a bowling performance described by skipper Sam Northeast as relentless. Walker agrees teams who go on to be successful.

“When you have a team on the ropes, you want to finish them off, or when you find a foothold in the game, you keep going and going.

“We’re getting there in that department, certainly the early part of the season we were really ruthless with the ball. We just never let up.

“We can be more ruthless with the bat, by that I mean people when they get in really need to take the opportunity to put the foot on the neck and never ease up. We can get a bit better at that.”

Walker says one of the most pleasing aspects of the Sussex win was the fact so many players made key contributions.

He added: “It makes a difference when sides come against you and they know someone is going to stand up and put in a performance when it counts.

“It’s not luck, it’s not fortunate, it’s what the guys do. We spoke about that, those tricky periods where last year we weren’t particularly good, those moments in games when you’re under a bit of pressure or it’s not looking too clever and boys will say ‘right I’m going to find my way out of this.’

“That’s a good sign – when people are doing it from all different positions, that’s a great place to be as a team.”

Kent resume. their championship campaign on Thursday, June 8, when they host bottom club Durham at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence (11am).