by Alex Hoad

Geraint Jones said he enjoyed his stint as Kent captain after handing the role back to James Tredwell in Canterbury this week.

England spinner Tredwell returned from New Zealand for the Easter weekend and was re-introduced to his side at the St Lawrence Ground on Monday, with a two-day friendly against Surrey beginning the following morning.

Vice-captain Jones (pictured) said: "He’s been keeping in touch while he’s been away so he didn’t really need bringing up to speed but we had a chat with the boys on Monday and, as it was his first day back, he had a few things to say.

"I’ve done my bit now and it was fine, it was a fairly easy task, it wasn’t hugely tactical."

A three-day game against Cardiff MCCU will begin at Canterbury on Wednesday and Jones added: "It’s the only other game we have before the Championship opener at Leicester. The season is getting closer.

"I’m sure Jimmy Adams and Treddy will be coming up with a plan. We’ve used a lot of players so far in the warm-up games but I think it will narrow down a bit toward the starting XI this week."

Tredwell was named in England' provisional 30-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy on Thursday.

The competition will be held in England and Wales in June and the sqad will be whittled down to 15 by May 5.

tredwell's off-spin rival Graeme Swann was named in the squad but is not expected to be fit after elbow surgery.

Kent began their season with a successful two days of action at the Ageas Bowl in Hampshire last week.

In a 40-over game on Friday, Kent restricted the hosts to 147 all-out with spinner Adam Riley claiming 5-26 before Ben Harmison steered the visitors towards victory with a solid 69, having come in at 14-4, before Adam Ball (31 not out) and Matt Coles saw them over the line with an over to spare.

The previous day, a 100-over red-ball game ended in a draw when bad light stopped play, although Riley and all-rounder Calum Haggett claimed two wickets each.

Jones and Brendan Nash each claimed half-centuries as Kent put on 318-8 against Surrey at the St Lawrence Ground on Tuesday, though the visitors passed their score the following day for the loss of just three wickets, two of them for Tredwell, as the match was drawn.