In the lead up to the 2016 domestic season, ecb.co.uk will be running a series of features with all 18 first-class counties. Matt Coles is hoping to bowl Kent to silverware this term.
Ending a seven year silverware drought is top of Kent’s agenda for 2016, according to Matt Coles.
The Spitfires had a successful three-season period from 2007, winning the Twenty20 Cup, finishing runners-up in both limited-overs competitions before claiming the County Championship Division Two title.
But they have not added to the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence trophy cabinet since, despite their best attempts in recent campaigns.
They reached the semi-finals of the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2014, losing to Warwickshire, and exited both limited-overs competitions at the quarter-final stage last term.
With a young squad starting to come of age, Coles sees no reason why Kent cannot be successful this season.
“The expectations for us are to win trophies,” Coles told ecb.co.uk.
“Last season we showed signs of starting to do really well in the one-day stuff and getting to the quarter-finals of both of those competitions, and the four-day stuff was a bit hit and miss.
“But there were a few games last year we could have won which would have put us in a bit better stead.
“We’re all similar sort of ages so there’s a good balance between the senior boys and us and that’s beneficial for us that everyone’s knitted together and coming together as a group rather than individuals wanting to succeed.”
Kent’s hopes of winning a trophy have been boosted by the recruitment of New Zealand batsman Tom Latham and South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada as overseas players.
“From hearing what people have said Latham will be a good one because we’ve struggled a little bit with the batting last year so hopefully he can do a good job at the top of the order and get us a shed-load of runs,” Coles said.
“When Rabada comes for his short period it will be interesting to see what his theories are on the game and what he’s got from international cricket with regards to how he goes about what he does with the ball.”
Coles made a brilliant return to Kent in 2015 following his release from Hampshire, taking 100 wickets in all competitions.
And the 25-year-old is determined to replicate that success this time around, saying: “It would be nice to do as well with the ball as I did last year – touch wood that can happen.
“If not I’m going to try and score a few more runs, I try not to set too many targets. Obviously the benchmark of 50 wickets in the Championship is a given.
“My role in the team is trying to get as many wickets as quickly as possible and not going for too many runs.
“I like to attack when I bowl so if I do leak a few more runs I know we’ve got the other lads coming on behind who can steady the ship.”
Source: ECB