Kent’s new coaching team revealed

Matt Walker is Kent Cricket’s new head coach with Allan Donald as his assistant.

Walker, 43, spent 16 of his 19-year playing career at Kent, scoring more than 12,000 first class runs and top-scored in Kent’s Twenty20 Cup Final win in 2007.

He holds Kent’s record individual score at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, 275 not out against Somerset in 1996.

The Gravesend-born coach has also worked with Essex and England Lions and served for three years as assistant coach to Jimmy Adams, who stepped down in 2016.

Walker said: “'Having grown up as a Kent player and played 16 seasons for this great county, I am extremely honoured and proud to be offered the Head Coach role.

“We have an exciting and talented squad that I believe is capable of challenging across all three formats.

“I am relishing this opportunity and will work with Sam Northeast and Allan Donald to bring success to the club.”

He will be joined by former South Africa fast bowler Donald, 50, who has worked at Warwickshire and enjoyed coaching spells with the Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England national teams.

Donald, who has also coached at Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, said: “I would like to thank the club for giving me this opportunity to work with this very talented group as the assistant coach.

“I look forward to working closely with Matt Walker and Sam Northeast in forming a very tight relationship as we plot our way through the season.

“There is no doubt that I'm pumped for the new season ahead and can’t wait to meet all the players and backroom staff.”

The new coaching team will lead the squad on the FGS Plant Tour to the West Indies later this month before the county season starts on Friday 7 April.

Chairman George Kennedy CBE said: “Matt was the outstanding candidate from the recruitment process.

“He is a modern, innovative coach who is highly regarded by players and peers as shown by the work he has done with Kent and England.

“His knowledge and passion for the club is an added bonus.

“The addition of Allan Donald brings a fresh face and new voice to the staff who we hope will also help bring the best out of our seam attack.”

2017 tickets and memberships are now on sale atwww.kentcricketshop.co.uk