Stand in skipper Geraint Jones is looking forward to the visit of Essex to Canterbury this week for Kent’s latest County Championship game.

Victory against Glamorgan at Cardiff last week has seen Kent climb to within touching distance of both Hampshire and Glamorgan in Division Two of the County Championship and a victory this week could see them leap to sixth in the table.

With their second win of the season under their belts and playing a good brand of cricket in recent weeks, Kent will be looking to make it back to back wins against their neighbours and Jones is hoping the side put on another show for the Canterbury public:

“Our last three games are against the Division’s top three, so it will be a tough finish to the season, but saying that, we have had a good last eight games in the County Championship.”

“A home game against our local rivals Essex is always one we look forward to and generally we have good games against them.”

“Both teams are in good form, so it sets it up for a good game starting on Wednesday.”

Much of the talk around the club over the past week has been six players putting pen to paper on deals with Kent and Jones is glad the club have managed to sort out some of their business before the winter break:

“It’s great that the club have done it early. They are working towards some others coming in and making sure it’s not left to the last minute, which I think is the right way to go.”

“It’s also great that Sam Northeast has re-signed as that adds stability to the batting order. With Mitch (Claydon) having signed and then Dave Griffiths coming in, we’ve got the nucleus of a decent squad.”

“Maybe a new county is just what David Griffiths needs after having an injury and hopefully we will get to see the best of him.”

Meanwhile, Jones went on to explain to KSN how he is always in touch with skipper James Tredwell despite being away on international duty with England and he was just one of a number of people that had got in contact after the win at Glamorgan:

“He was pretty quick to send a well done text message when we won (after the Glamorgan game). There’s no doubt he is keeping an eye on things, but then saying that I found out Pat Mellsop, our Commercial Director, had sent a congratulatory text message and he was in Cyprus.”

“It’s good to see people involved with the club are keeping a close eye on what we’re doing.”

Kent have named a 12-man team for the visit of Essex. Kent: Jones (c,w), Northeast, Key, Bell-Drummond, Nash, Stevens, Harmison, Davies, Haggett, Riley, Shreck, Cowdrey.

Gautam Gambhir returns to the Essex line-up having missed the previous match due to a family bereavement, while Sajid Mahmood is also named in a 12-man squad.

Essex squad to face Kent: Jaik Mickleburgh, Gautam Gambhir, Greg Smith, Owais Shah, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ben Foakes, James Foster, Graham Napier, David Masters, Monty Panesar, Reece Topley, Sajid Mahmood.