CEO Jamie Clifford has told KSN he is “delighted” to have Kent hosting Australia as a warm-up for next summer’s Ashes series.

The Chief Executive also described the game as “like a Test match” for Kent, with the match, which will run from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 28 June 2015 at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, set to garner interest from around the world.

Australia are currently ranked number one in the world by the ICC in both Test cricket and one-day cricket.

“We’re delighted”, Clifford told KSN on the afternoon of the day the news was announced.

“It’s like a Test match for us – that’s probably not exaggerating. Four days against the Australians, and the days of the week that it’s on as well – Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday – we couldn’t really have hoped for better.”

“I think our players will be really keen to put one over on them as they arrive for their Ashes series, and commercially it’s very important for us as well.

“It gives us great opportunity to really capitalise on the commercial aspects of running games, and I’m very positive about it.”

Kent host ICC World T20 Champions Sri Lanka this Friday in a 50-over match at Canterbury, and Clifford feels the club have a pedigree of proving to be more than capable hosts for visiting international sides.

“I would like to think that we’ve put on a good show for touring sides when they’ve come before”, Clifford said.

“I’m very optimistic about giving Australia the support that they need in preparation for what is a big series.”

“It may well be televised – I don’t know what the plans are for that at this stage. It gives us all a boost. It becomes a major focal point of next season, away from the domestic stuff – obviously we’ll continue to want to do well in those competitions but it’s a great one-off!”