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Kent Cricket overseas player Doug Bollinger says he is here to help young bowlers improve and to help Kent win

On the eve of the new season Australian seamer Doug Bollinger hopes his experience will help the Kent squad become winners.

The 32-year-old left-arm seamer arrived in the UK on Wednesday after agreeing a deal to be the club’s overseas player for 2014 and revealed on Thursday morning: “I am absolutely excited to be here.”

Doug Bollinger
Doug Bollinger

Bollinger was an unused reserve during England’s recent Ashes tour Down Under but ever-present in Australia’s ICC t20 campaign in Bangladesh earlier this month.

At his unveiling at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on Thursday morning, Bollinger revealed: “The guys have been fantastic and were very welcoming when I got here during the practice match on Wednesday.

“It looks a fantastic place to be and I’m looking forward to getting started on Sunday, it should be good fun.”

Weather-permitting, Kent will begin their campaign at Worcestershire, the club where Bollinger spent an ill-fated 2007 season, claiming 16 Championship wickets at an average of 44.

He said: “Worcester will be good, it’s a good ground, I’ve not been there in a while. I am looking forward to it, hopefully we can go there, get a win and start well.”

He added: “I can’t wait and the guys are ready to go. They had a good practice game here this week with a couple of hundreds and a few wickets - that’s all you can ask for.”

Bollinger confirmed Kent skipper Rob Key had invited him to sign via text message around Christmas.

He added: “Keysey just said it would be a good opportunity and they were exited to have me over. It was simple as that. It was not a hard decision, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me.

“After I signed I spoke to Mitch Claydon, who I have known for a very long time, but before that I just spoke to Jimmy Adams and Keysey about what’s going on here. They were both very good, very professional and old school, and I like that.

“They didn’t sell me anything, they just said come over, have a good time and teach our young guys some bowling - which I think is a wonderful thing to try and do - plus take some wickets.

“That’s why I’m here. I want to help the younger guys and take as many wickets as I can and try and win some games. I want to win. I want to be a winner.”

Bollinger has 50 Test wickets at an average of under 26 in 12 appearances and is fresh from a successful Sheffield Shield campaign for NSW, while he also played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash t20 competition.

His performances earned him a place in the Australian side for the ICC World t20 in Bangladesh, where he took a wicket in each of his side’s four games.

The paceman will be eligible for the whole LV= County Championship, Division 2 programme as well as the t20 and 50-over campaigns and said: “One of the attractions was that I am here for the whole thing. It’s good to be available for every format, I just want to get out there and take wickets in whatever format.”

Doug Bollinger was all smiles after signing for Kent Picture: Fiona Stapley-Harding
Doug Bollinger was all smiles after signing for Kent Picture: Fiona Stapley-Harding
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