Sam Northeast wants Kent’s players to make sure they get in the faces of their opposition every day this season.

Northeast, who is starting his first full season as skipper, will be encouraging the squad to play a more aggressive brand of cricket so that their opponents know they have been in a game.

The 26-year-old said: “One of my goals is to create a team that is going to compete as much as possible on the pitch.

“We sometimes focus a lot on ourselves, what we’re doing, our techniques but the best teams and the best players I’ve come across, are always in your face competing.

“You always feel in a battle with some clubs, when you play against them, when you bat, you think ‘right, I’m in a contest here’ and that’s the type of atmosphere I want (at Kent).
“I want the other team to feel ‘Kent have turned up today, it’s not going to be an easy
day’.”

Northeast said he wants his players to follow the competitive example of England all-rounder Ben Stokes.

He added: “I know he went around the park (against West Indies in the World T20 final) but Ben Stokes is the epitome of an aggressive cricketer, someone who is always at you.

“Even when he’s batting he wants to take the bowlers on and never let them settle.
“That’s the type of cricketer we want to start producing, with that sort of mentality, that belief.

“Walk out there with a bit of a strut and a belief that you are going to play a certain way or, get the ball in your hand, and be a matchwinner.”

Northeast feels pre-season has gone well and says the squad are keen to build on the promise of 2015, when they reached two one-day quarter-finals.

He added: “We are quietly optimistic and what I like about our dressing room is that they are hungry. They want to succeed and want to raise their standards.

“It would be nice to see progression this year and if we won some silverware, it would be brilliant.

“We all want to be in Division 1 (of the championship) and win every competition, that’s why we play the game but if we can step forward in our performances and show people what a good side we are, I’d be pretty happy with that.”

Kent open their Specsavers County Championship Division 2 campaign against Worcestershire at New Road on Sunday.

Batsmen Joe Denly and Rob Key could both be in contention after missing the three-day game with Loughborough MCCU which finished on Thursday.