Geraint Jones is thrilled with the impact some of Kent’s younger stars are having on the side in recent weeks.

The likes of Fabian Cowdrey and Daniel Bell-Drummond have been drafted into the Spitfires T20 side over the past few games as Kent towards the future.

Both Bell-Drummond and Cowdrey were instrumental in getting the side off to a decent start at Hampshire at the weekend with Cowdrey teaming up with Sam Billings at the top of the order on Wednesday night as the Spitfires made it back to back wins with victory against the Sussex Sharks.

Along with the likes of Adam Riley and Matt Coles, the side has a lot fresher feel to it and Jones told KSN how he was pleased that so many fresh faces have come into the side and done well:

“I think the boys did really well carrying on from Sunday’s performance against Hampshire. We didn’t have a great first five games of this T20 competition, but the way we’ve started the second five has been fantastic.”

“A couple of the young guys have come in and played extremely well and that’s what’s pleasing to see. They have taken to it fantastically well and with the ball we’ve summed up the conditions of the wickets really well, bowled to them and defended two totals.”

“All of the bowlers have done a fantastic job and the batsmen have given us winning scores.”

“Fab has been desperate to play all year really and in the last few weeks he’s scored hundreds and a double hundred in the second team. He’s been desperate for that chance and he’s grabbed it with both hands.”

“We’ve also seen that he has the potential with the ball and that’s pleasing to see. The way he goes about his innings though is nice as he isn’t the biggest hitter, but he deflects the ball well and if it is in the slot he picks up boundaries.”

Once again it was Darren Stevens that top scored for the side on Wednesday night as he smashed a blistering 67 not out and Jones has nothing but praise for the all-rounder:

“It’s boring that he keeps on getting our Man of the Match awards! Stevo is incredible value in all of our games and that’s why people fear playing against him.”

“He is incredible as he can bat, bowl and is great in the field. You can’t really put a value on what he contributes.”

Jones also was full of praise for his fast bowling pair of Mitch Claydon and Vernon Philander for their experience to win the game against Sussex with the latter playing his last game for the Spitfires tonight against Surrey at The Oval:

“To come in and defend the scores the way they have has been great and they’ve shown their class at the top and at the back end.”

“Although it didn’t go so well for Vernon in the four day games, he’s been invaluable in the white ball games for us.”

Going to The Oval tonight for the Spitfires latest T20 game, Jones will once again lead the side in James Tredwell’s absence with Daniel Bell-Drummond set to replace Brendan Nash in the top three after missing Wednesday’s game due to personal reasons.

Meanwhile, both Calum Haggett and Adam Ball have been drafted into the Spitfires 13 man squad with Mark Davies dropping out.

After initially missing out on selection for the T20’s this season, Jones went on to explain to KSN how he was thrilled to be back amongst the side:

“I’m really happy to be back playing and you’ve got to take your opportunities when they come along. I enjoy playing alongside these young guys and when you’re winning it’s great fun.”

Despite an indifferent start to the season, Jones believes there is still plenty to play for in the next few months and Kent haven’t given up hope of picking up some silverware along the way:

“We’ve got to look at this second half of the season and really push on. We can take some momentum from these Twenty 20 games and we’re playing well in the YB40.”

“We broke the world record against Sussex so we’re playing well. We had a fantastic win down at Cheltenham in the Championship and hopefully that will give us the momentum going into our next game and at this stage of the season it’s all about getting on a winning roll.”

Jones and the Spitfires side take on Surrey tonight at what should be a packed Oval with play scheduled to start at 6:30pm and you can follow all the action at @ksncricket

Kent squad: Jones (c/wk), Bell-Drummond, Billings, Stevens, Blake, Harmison, Cowdrey, Riley, Claydon, Coles, Philander, Haggett, Ball.

Surrey squad: Batty, Ansari, Burns, Davies, Dernbach, De Bruyn, Lewis, Azhar Mahmood, O’Brien, Ponting, Roy, Solanki, Tremlett, Wilson.