Mitchell Claydon is looking forward to another season with Kent and is relishing the prospect of leading the bowling attack.

The former Durham man will take the new ball when Kent start their County Championship season away to Essex beginning on Sunday with no overseas star at the club for the 2015 campaign.

In his second full season for the club having had a loan spell back in 2013, the Australian born bowler will be the go to man for skipper Rob Key once again in 2015 in all formats of the game, but it’s a role the 32 year old is looking forward to:

“I had a good break going back to Australia at the end of the last season, not doing too much until after Christmas and that’s been the same thing I have done for the past six or seven years.”

“I got bowling again after Christmas and by the time I got back to Kent I had probably bowled about 120 overs. For me, that’s probably the best way to do it and bowling is tough, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes.”

“The coaches emphasised getting away as we weren’t going to have much of a pre-season and I think that has been of benefit as everyone has been around the world playing cricket.”

With both Joe Denly and Matt Coles back at the club after spells away with Middlesex and Hampshire respectively, there is a real sense of unity and familiarity at Kent this season and it’s one that could bring success for Claydon:

“I think any time you get lads back that are homegrown it can only be a good thing. Joe is another international cricketer in the changing room and he’s had that taste of international cricket. He has also played professional cricket for about ten years, so everyone can learn off him.”

“Yes we haven’t got an overseas, but if you out Joe and Colesy in the side, it’s like having one or two. Colesy has just got to do what we know he can do.”

“He’s by far one of the most talented cricketers in England without doubt, with bat, ball and in the field. He’s a massive acquisition to our side and if he can help our bowling then that’s great.”

“We’ve got some great younger guys coming through like Ivan Thomas and Matt Hunn, who has bowled really well pre-season. Those two guys have really put their hands up and will certainly help the squad out as well.”

The pressure of having to lead the attack could be a burden for some players, but Claydon told KSN how he is more than happy to be the senior figure along with Darren Stevens:

“Throughout my career at Durham I was the third or fourth bowler in the attack as we had such a strong line up, so to come down here and lead the attack meant I had my most enjoyable cricketing year.”

“To have that responsibility and be a senior player was something I really enjoyed and somerthing I am looking forward to doing for the next five or six years if the body holds up.”

Kent have shown great potential in the past few seasons with a lot of younger players coming into the side and Claydon is hoping this is the one that sees the side go from almost rans to title contenders:

“Everyone sets their goals at the start of the year to go on and win trophies and we are no different. We did really well in the One Day competition last year and I think from that competition we learnt a lot as a side.”

“I think a few of the younger blokes now realise they are good enough to play at this level and that’s a massive thing.”

“If we could have played the cricket we played towards the end of last year at the start, we would have challenged for more. If we can take that confidence into this year we will be in a good place as we have good depth in our squad.”

“We haven’t had that for a couple of years and there are going to be guys that will miss out and are going to be putting pressure on the guys in the side.”

“That’s what you want and it will create the environment where everyone will want to do well.”

Claydon is renowned for wielding the willow when needed too and has been known to smack a few sixes throughout the season. With Sam Billings playing some outrageous shots last season, many of the Kent squad have been picking the young wicketkeeper’s brains, but not Claydon who insists he wan’t be taking many tips off the blonde haired talent:

“He is very vain is Bilbo. For press day he was doing his hair for about an hour and a half with his straighteners and putting his foundation on!”

“That’s Bilbo! We’ve all got to learn to live with it.”

“As for my batting, I will keep swinging and as long as I don’t get in any trouble with Jimmy (Adams), I’ll keep going!”