Captain Rob Key is confident that overseas signing Doug Bollinger is going to do “some real damage” for Kent this year.

Australian Bollinger has already picked up 12 wickets in his first two games for Kent at an average of just over 19, including figures of 5-43 in the second innings on his debut against Worcestershire.

The season has not started as Kent would have been hoping for, with a defeat at Worcestershire followed by a draw at home to Leicestershire. However, Key is confident that the side’s attack is heading in the right direction, while Kent are still waiting for David Griffiths, Mark Davies and Calum Haggett to return to the squad; all three of them currently recovering from injuries.

“A week into pre-season, we thought we looked around and said “we’ve got some good competition in the bowling department.” As it is, we’ve ended up with a few injured”, Key said.

“At the moment, we are starting to build a decent seam attack, led by Dougie Bollinger, who looks like he’s going to do some real damage this year.

“He’s already got some wickets on pitches that haven’t necessarily suited his style of bowling. Certainly at Worcester – it didn’t bounce above the stumps and he managed to come away with seven wickets there.

“Once the season starts getting into full flow and people find their rhythm and their form, I think we’re starting to build a decent attack.”

After Key’s declaration on the third evening in an attempt to force a result from the game against Leicestershire, Bollinger bowled a four-over spell with real pace and venom, causing problems for all of the Leicestershire batsmen, and picking up two quick wickets in the process.

“He was very unlucky in that game [against Leicestershire]”, Key said.

“It won’t take much for him to have a little bit of luck – there are balls dropping short of the slips, people playing and missing and stuff – when he gets his tail up, as we saw that night. It’s a shame we didn’t push that a little bit earlier, almost, because I don’t think there will be many that are going to be able to stand up to that sort of class of bowling.”

Key also declared himself happy with the form of Robbie Joseph, who has returned to Canterbury having left the club in 2011. Joseph has picked up five wickets in the two matches so far this season at an average of 31.40.

“Robbie Joseph’s done well”, Key said.

“He forced his way into the side on merit, really. He’s been really good. He hasn’t played a lot of cricket for a couple of years, but I’m pleased. Certainly at Worcester, I thought he bowled really well. He had a few injury worries in the last game [against Leicestershire].

“At his best, he was taking 60 wickets in the first division for us, so if he can get anywhere near that – where he was in pre-season – he’s a real find for the club.”

 

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