Kent captain James Tredwell is encouraged the side have the right blend of youth and experience to challenge on all fronts next season.

Tredwell took over as Kent skipper last week, replacing Rob Key who stood down after seven years in the job to concentrate on just his batting.

The 30 year old spinner has been charged with leading the side on and off the field for years to come, whilst helping to develop some of Kent’s promising youngsters.

That’s something Kent certainly aren’t lacking with a number of Academy graduates and promising Second Eleven players beginning to emerge as real candidates for the first team in years to come:

“I think that is the key. We have got some young lads coming through and this year has shown the blend of youth and experience has given the younger guys the chance to blossom.” said Tredwell.

“It is particularly evident with someone like Matt Coles who this year bowled superbly for the first two thirds of the year and to have Charlie Shreck and Mark Davies around him to help him along was invaluable.”

“That’s just the same with the batting experience we have with guys like Sam Northeast and Daniel Bell-Drummond.”

“I think that blend is essential and hopefully we can keep moving those guys forward.”

One of Tredwell’s biggest challenges in 2013 will be to know when to bowl himself and when to have a rest.

However, the Ashford bown spinner isn’t concerned about that fact as he admits there will always be someone within earshot prepared to tell him it’s time to have a break if required:

“I guess the challenge is to get the balance right. I did it as a kid and the challenge is as to when to bowl yourself and when to take yourself off.”

“There are plenty of people around me and I will be calling on them and asking their advice. I’m sure they will tell me if I have had enough.”

Next season will be Rob Key reverting to just a batsman, but Tredwell is excited by the prospect of seeing his former skipper pushing himself to score as many runs as possible for the side:

“Keysey has been a fine batsman, always has been and always will be. To have him at the top of the order is going to be invaluable and he said he is going to score more runs!”

“To have him there with the experience he has got is going to be great and he is tactically excellent and I will be able to draw on that.”

Tredwell’s first competitive game as Kent captain will be against Leicestershire at Grace Road with the full list of fixtures for 2013 announced on Monday afternoon.