Kent assistant coach Matt Walker is pleased with the make-up of the squad as the start of the 2014 campaign draws ever closer.

Walker is enjoying being back at the club with pre-season in full swing, following his return to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, where he spent 17 years as a player.

“We have a really nice blend of squad this year”, said Walker when KSN caught up with him. “We’ve got some experienced players and a really good overseas signing in Doug Bollinger. He’s really experienced who will add a dynamic to it being an Australian, and some youngsters coming through the system who are starting just to turn the page and really cement their places in the team.

“It’s down to them to really create a Kent backbone in that middle order, and with the ball, and hopefully that dynamic will work – the youth with the experience.”

Walker is confident that if the team perform to the best of their ability, they will be in the mix come the end of the season.

“We know the quality we’ve got – if we play well enough, for long enough, then we’ll certainly be in the frame, and that’s the bottom line.

“The potential is great, but it’s a case of executing the skills well enough for long enough during the season. If we do that, who knows – there could be some success.”

The 41-year-old is also confident that the club are on a positive trajectory as a whole, after a difficult last couple of seasons.

“There has been a struggle for a few years, obviously both on and off the field”, he said.

“Off the field, things are starting to turn around pretty quickly, which is great, and on the field, it’s looking good.

The Gravesend-born man is also enjoying working with Rob Key again, with Key having retaken over the captaincy from James Tredwell.

“Rob [Key]’s one of my best mates and we’ve always had a very good, close friendship, plus a very good professional relationship”, he said.

“We have very similar views on how we think cricket should be played and how we think Kent should move forward. I’m very pleased to be part of the management team.

“Having not known Jimmy [Adams] as well, he’s extremely enthusiastic, desperate to do well for Kent, and I’ve really enjoyed working with him so far.

“I think as time goes on, our relationship will hopefully blossom and we can impact what we want on the team and hopefully we’ll come across with some silverware.”