New recruit David Griffiths is confident that if the squad can perform to the best of their abilities, the 2014 season could be a successful one for Kent.

28-year-old Griffiths was a pre-season signing from Hampshire, and is one of three new arrivals at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence. He has come into the squad alongside overseas signing Doug Bollinger and Mitch Claydon, signed on a permanent deal from Durham having spent some of 2013 on loan in Canterbury.

Griffiths spoke about his excitement of working alongside Bollinger and the rest of the senior players at the club as the new season approaches.

“Obviously there is a lot of young talent here as well as a lot of international experience, too. With Doug [Bollinger] coming in as well, I think I’m going to be able to learn off of him, as well as the other players here.

“He’s done a lot for Australia and he’s been doing well in Shield Cricket over there this year. It’s great for youngsters and even more senior players to learn off him.

“We saw with the likes of [Trent] Copeland last year at Northants that he probably won them promotion in the first two months of the year, because he took so many wickets.

“You’re pushing yourself in front of other people in the Second Division with a world-class bowler like Doug. A world-class overseas player is going to win you games, so if Doug can do his job and the rest of us can do ours to the best of our capability, I think we stand a very good chance of success.”

Griffiths now feels settled into his new surroundings, and is keen to get going and get involved in all formats in the new campaign.

“I’ve very much enjoyed it so far”, said Griffiths when KSN caught up with him at the Kent Cricket Media Day. “Everyone’s involved me in different things and has welcomed me with open arms really, so it’s made it very easy for me to get on with my stuff and hopefully perform in the future.”

The fast bowler, recognised as now being one of the quickest in the Kent squad, chose to stay in Canterbury over the winter to get used to his new surroundings and prepare for the season ahead.

“I had an opportunity to go overseas but I wanted to get my feet under the table here”, he said.

“I’ve been down here since November, training indoors with the lads, getting to know people’s habits and getting to learn about different people around the club. We’ve been lucky to be able to get outside for the last two or three weeks, and we’ve got a lot of bowling under our belts and that’s gone really well.”

“Obviously we didn’t go away [overseas, as a squad] and I think we only missed one afternoon from rain in the last two or three weeks, so we’ve been very lucky with that. We’ve been able to get a lot of outdoor practice in and I think the lads are bowling well and they’re batting and seeing the ball well, so it’s all looking good.”

Griffiths admitted that a lack of game time at Hampshire, the club he came through the ranks at as a youngster, was his main motivation for moving on.

“I think hopefully there is an opportunity for me to play more cricket, and to perform over a period of time and have a run of games under my belt. That is my main drive for the year – to play as much cricket as I can – and I think I have things to offer in all formats.”