Kent’s High Performance Director Simon Willis has backed new Head Coach Jimmy Adams to be a success at Kent County Cricket Club.

The former West Indies batsman started his role on Tuesday after sorting out the necessary work visa back in Jamaica, just over a month after he was unveiled at a media conference in Canterbury.

Now the hard work starts for the softly spoken left handed batsman as he looks to turn around Kent’s fortunes, but despite having been away from Kent for the past month, Willis explained to KSN how the two had been in regular touch to keep Adams up to speed with what had been going on at the St Lawrence Ground:

“We had discussions quite a lot whilst he was back home and he’d ring me of an evening and catch up with what had been going on and who had been doing what.”

“He’s been desperate to get here and as soon as he got the job he wanted to be here, get his hands dirty and start to understand what Kent Cricket is all about.”

“He’s been able to read up about things online and ask questions, but there is no substitute for being at the club. He’s been desperate to be here, meet the lads and get started.”

The use of technology has played a big part in Adams being able to see what his new squad had been doing in his absence with Strength and Conditioning Coach Pete Kelly also in regular contact.

Videos of players training along with being in the nets has given Adams to opportunity to have a closer look at the squad he has inherited, but now he is the country he can start to impart his knowledge to Kent’s cricketers.

Having captained the West Indies along with being a successful batsman in his own right, Adams is a household name in cricketing circles and Willis told KSN how he believed the Jamaican would be good for Kent Cricket:

“I’ve known Jimmy for twenty years. He’s a highly respected man in the game worldwide and although he’ll be learning as he goes along and is his first full-time Head Coach role, it will be important for us guys to give him the support that he needs.”

“There will no doubt be the odd tough time, but the support team will do all they can to make sure those difficult periods are short periods. I think everyone will get behind him and I for one believe he’ll do a great job for us.”

Despite not being in the country to oversee some of the players pre-season preparations, Adams will be pleased to know the squad are looking better than ever with Willis explaining how fit he felt the players were:

“Physically, you can see when the boys are stripped down that their bodies are looking a hell of a lot stronger. Time will tell this summer as to how their bodies hold up to the cricket specific activities, because they aren’t natural.”

“From a point of view the work that Pete’s done, last year the players aerobic fitness was good, but now we have been more hands on about getting the guys stronger.”

“Hopefully, during the Twenty 20 period which can be a dynamic time for the body, we will be able to come through that with limited injuries.”

Along with Adams, Kent’s new signings Ben Harmison and Mike Powell were expected to join up with their new team-mates this week for the first time, while Charlie Shreck will be at Canterbury soon to start preparing for the season ahead.