Brendan Nash says he enters this summer with a point to prove and believes Kent fans did not see the best of him last season.

The former West Indian Test star, now 37, returns for his fourth campaign with the club, knowing he faces increased competition for a top-order role with the return of Joe Denly and Sam Northeast’s glittering form late last season.

Aussie-born Nash’s 2014 campaign brought more than 800 championship runs but included just one century, in stark contrast to the previous summer when he hit five.

That included a memorable unbeaten 199 which helped secure victory in a run-chase at Gloucestershire and his own place in Kent folklore as he was helped from the field just 21 runs short of victory after suffering heat stroke during a five-hour stint in the middle.

The left-hander said: “There’s always excitement at the start of a new season, even for someone like me who has played a few seasons now, not just county but seasons in general.

“I feel I’ve done pretty well here, although I was personally a little bit disappointed last year. I had an injury come at the wrong time as well and I don’t often get injured, so last year was pretty disappointing for me.

“I think I have a point to prove. I’ve made it a thing to say to myself I want to be better this year, maybe focus a bit more on my game and make sure I’m doing my end of the bargain.

“I don’t like to make big statements about targets or runs but that’s something I want to look a bit more closely at this year.”

Nash revealed he doubts he’s alone in carrying frustration over from last season.

He added: “We’re all just feeling disappointment from last year, in all formats. We made it to the 50-over semi-final but didn’t put up our best fight in that game.

“We’re all disappointed and wanting to do well. Some of the younger blokes are seeing there are opportunities there and wanting to progress their game as well.

“The more exposure we get with those big games where we really have to win, the

better.

“That shows the group who the guys are that want to work the hardest to make it. We have to keep giving ourselves opportunities, get ourselves into must-win positions like semi-finals.

“If we can keep doing that, hopefully we can get the experience and drive and everyone can chip in and we progress.”

Nash still enjoys the mentor role which has seen him help Kent youngsters like Daniel Bell-Drummond flourish in the past couple of seasons.

He said: “Certain guys come and ask questions of me which is great, I enjoy that. I have a different way of doing things but some guys seem to think it might work for them.

“This will be my fourth season in the squad now. I think I’ve imposed myself in some way, my experience from a team aspect side of things in the dressing room, I enjoy keeping that

going.

“Captain Rob Key and coach Jimmy Adams have their ideas which might be slightly different to the way I might do things but I still have experience which can help them out in whichever way they want to go.”