Matt Walker has signed a two-year contract extension with Kent that will see him remain at the club until December 2020.

The head coach saw his side gain promotion from Division 2 of the Specsavers County Championship, reach a Lord's final and the quarter-final of the Vitality Blast.

The 44-year-old was promoted to the role as head coach in January 2017 after being assistant coach under Jimmy Adams.

Walker spent 16 seasons as a Kent player, scoring over 15,000 runs, before moving to Essex at the end of 2008.

He was delighted to sign the contract extension and remain at the club for a further two seasons.

He said: “I have always been incredibly proud to coach Kent, so I’m delighted to be able to extend my contract.

“We’ve got a great mix in the dressing room, a good blend of youth with a few experienced heads in the squad and we’re beginning to make strides forward.

“We still have a lot of work to do but we all look forward to bringing future success to the club.”

Director of cricket Paul Downton said Walker has been instrumental in Kent's success in the 2018 season as the club has thrived in all formats.

He said: “Having Matt extend his coaching contract is fantastic news for everyone associated with Kent Cricket.

“His work ethic and attention to detail is second to none and you simply can’t measure what he brings to the club behind the scenes and in the dressing room.

“We now look forward to building on what we achieved as a club last season.”