Matt Milnes hopes Kent can pick up where they left off at the start of the new season.

After a slow start, Matt Walker's side recovered well in 2021 and won the T20 Blast competition before also winning Division 3 of the County Championship.

They are back in County Championship Division 1 this summer as the competition reverts to two divisions following two seasons under revised structures due to Covid.

Kent begin their campaign at Essex this Thursday before hosting Lancashire at The Spitfire Ground the following week.

Seam bowler Milnes, who won Players’ Player of the Year and Bowler of the Year at last year’s end-of-season awards, thinks Kent can become “a pretty formidable force” if they start well.

He said: “Obviously, we didn’t start the season brilliantly last year.

“But if we can start a bit better this year and maintain the form that we had at the back-end of the season, from obviously the T20s and also the County Championship, I think we will be a pretty formidable force.

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“With the overseas signings we have made as well to complement that, hopefully we can start the season really well.”

Kent have bolstered their squad in the close season, particularly in the bowling department.

Australian pace bowler Jackson Bird has signed for up to their first six County Championship games, before New Zealander Matt Henry returns from July, while South African all-rounder George Linde has penned a two-year, all-format deal.

Afghanistan international leg-spinner Qais Ahmad is expected to be back for their T20 defence too.

Milnes is looking forward to working alongside them, saying: “There’s obviously a lot of bowlers.

“But in order to win championships, you've got to have a good squad of bowlers as there are always injuries.

“There is experience coming in - guys who have played international cricket - which is great to learn from.”

Prior to the pandemic, Kent were competing in the top tier of the County Championship and Milnes thinks they are strong enough to make a good fist of it once again.

He commented: “In 2019, we played (in) Division 1 before Covid hit and finished fourth.

“So we certainly know what it’s about and what we need to do in order to get towards that top half and end up, hopefully, pushing to win it.”

Milnes, 27, has settled in nicely since he moved to Kent from Nottinghamshire in 2018.

He stated: “I’m enjoying my cricket.

“Last year, we won a bit of silverware which I think is very exciting for everyone because it gives you a taste of what it’s like and everyone wants to replicate that, but in different formats as well.”

Kent opted to use a marquee at The Spitfire Ground during pre-season, something Milnes feels has helped the bowlers in particular.

He added: “We have had six weeks of pre-season now so it’s a nice little build-up, into that first game. Everyone is starting to hit their straps quite nicely.

“We have had the tent here at Canterbury which has helped, so the bowlers can get bowling off their full run-ups and get into a bit of rhythm before that first game.

"It’s very exciting.”