Sam Billings accepts that the Kent Spitfires will have a target on their backs as this year’s Vitality Blast gets underway tonight at Canterbury, but insists that defending their crown is a “very realistic” ambition.

No team has ever retained the title in the competition’s history, which embarks upon its 20th season as Kent kick things off against Somerset tonight – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 6.30pm – in a repeat of the 2021 final.

Jordan Cox had a breakout display in last year’s final, the 21-year-old smashing an unbeaten 58 from 28 balls and producing a breath-taking piece of fielding to set up a remarkable relay catch with Matt Milnes.

Kent can also count on the experience of former England international Joe Denly and evergreen 46-year-old Darren Stevens, as well as Billings himself who returns to skipper the side after his IPL stint with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Asked whether his team could become the first to successfully defend their title, Billings said: “There is motivation, of course, but it’s very realistic as well.

“Apart from that evergreen 46-year-old we’ve got, we have a pretty young team which should in theory get stronger and stronger so we’re really looking forward to that.

“We know how people are going to approach us and maybe play a bit differently against us. We can prepare for that and hopefully win the title again.”

England’s domestic T20 competition first launched in 2003, with Billings then part of the young and impressionable demographic the ECB was trying to tap into.

Billings added: “We were in this country the frontrunners and the pioneers of T20 cricket and the England team has showed that we are still doing that on an international basis.

“I remember growing up as a Kent fan – in 2008 we lost in the final, but we won in 2007 – they were great memories for me.

“It was always one of those things where, ‘I want to be there and win stuff for Kent when I grow up’.