Kent’s cricketers stepped up their preparations for the new season this week with their first group session at Canterbury.

Nine players were involved on Monday, including skipper Rob Key, Simon Cook, Geraint Jones and Robbie Joseph, who heads for Australia at the end of the month.

Youngsters Alex Blake, James Goodman, Chris Piesley, Adam Ball and Daniel Bell-Drummond joined the senior players, with the latter two due to leave on Thursday with the England Under-19 squad to tour Sri Lanka.

Kent team director Paul Farbrace (pictured) said: "All the players had their own fitness programmes to work on during the winter, and we will be doing three sessions a week from now on, but numbers will vary depending on who is in the country."

Joseph will link up with Matt Coles in Perth, in a four-week stint, working with former Australian Test bowler Bruce Reid as he continues his long battle for full fitness, after injuring his shoulder, fielding in a Twenty20 game at The Oval in June 2009.

The paceman, who turns 29 on January 20, also hopes to play a few club games during his stay.

Farbrace said: "Robbie has worked very hard and the trip is an important part of his pre-season build-up and will be good for his confidence."

Sam Northeast returns at the end of the month from his successful winter playing for Sydney Cricket Club, while Joe Denly has also been in good form since joining them before Christmas, hitting a century and a couple of fifties.

Ball and Bell-Drummond are part of a 17-strong national under-19 party who will play two four-day Tests and five one-day games, on the trip, and Farbrace, former assistant coach to the Sri Lankan senior squad, said: "It’s a long trip, with a lot of travelling early on, but it will be a good experience for both boys.