Kent’s chase of an overseas bowler to start the Championship season this season were rocked last week when the Australian bowler they had lined up sadly dropped out as coach Matt Walker explained to KSN on the eve of the new campaign…

Walker had been trying to sign an overseas player to play against Northants but Kent’s efforts to sign Australian Joel Paris – a left arm Australian seamer – have sadly failed as the coach explained.

“We weren’t able to announce anything as nothing was sadly finalised; we didn’t get to a point where he signed a contract. He was due to come from the second game, but unfortunately he has a back injury on the back of a busy Australian summer which means he won’t be joining us.”

“We made a plan for Joel to come but that fell apart about a week ago and sadly there’s nothing that we can do about it except be patient and get someone else in as soon as possible.”

Paris played for Western Australia in the recent Sheffield Shield Final through the pain after taking 27 Shield wickets at 17.37 and had been looking for a County deal to push his claim for a place in The Ashes squad later this summer.

Turning his attention to this week’s start in the Championship, the coach said, “It hasn’t been the perfect pre-season – it’s been wet!”

Walker admitted bluntly! “We’ve been luck around the weather with practice here at Canterbury but the two practice competitive matches that we’ve had have been a bit of a wash out really.”

“We lost all three days at Merchant Taylors school against Middlesex and then we played sixty-five/seventy overs against Essex in three days, so definitely not ideal.”

“There will probably be a little bit of rustiness around the first game, but in terms of what I’m seeing from a practice point of view, it’s looking really good; the boys are in a really good place and they’re ready to go and I think that the ”fall-out” of the guys being away in the winter is now showing really.”

“They’re in a good place; they’re confident with the batters in a really good place, and the bowlers are getting better all the time.”

“Having not had too much practice competitive cricket is a bit of a shame, but when it comes to Thursday morning, we’ll just grit our teeth and get on with it!”

“Most people will be in the same boat around the country, and we’ve just got to focus on what’s in front of us and get into the contest and do our best.”

“We knew by staying at home at Canterbury there was a risk with the weather which has caught us out a bit, but that’s life and there will be no excuses.”

“We know where we’re at and just got to make sure that when we get in the middle on Thursday everyone’s absolutely focused at the job in hand – everyone’s just itching to get going now!”

Walker continued, “After missing out of Joel, we’re back in the process to find somebody hopefully from game three onwards now, but apart from that we are what we are.”

“Sometimes it makes things simpler as the guys know that they are playing – we’re still looking for an overseas from game three onwards; it would have been nice to have someone here this week, but it’s been a real struggle to find someone who wants to come.”

Walker then told us about the squad for Thursday. “Nathan Gilchrist won’t play which is a shame,” Walker conceded. “He’s had a back twinge, but he’s on the mend nicely and hopefully will be around for the second or third game, but apart from that everyone’s fit well and ready to go!”

Picture supplied by Max Flego Photography.