New captain Daniel Bell-Drummond is confident Kent can get a result against rivals Essex.
Kent will aim to build on their opening County Championship Division 1 draw against Somerset when they visit Chelmsford from tomorrow.
Essex top the division after the first round of games, having skittled Nottinghamshire for just 80 on their way to a 254-run victory at Trent Bridge.
Bell-Drummond, who started the campaign with a century, said: “It’s always a challenge playing Essex.
“They have got a lot of things covered – spin, seam and, obviously, some good batters, as well, one of them from here (Jordan Cox)!
“But every year is a new year. The guys will go there full of confidence.
“There’s some runs in the camp, a good performance and we won’t look too far ahead.
“Whether we bat or bowl first, we’re going to try and win that first session and take it from there.
“Obviously, they’re a good team. But I’m feeling confident that we can get a good result.”
Vice-captain Sam Cook took second-innings figures of 6-14 – and match figures of 10-73 – as Essex hammered Nottinghamshire. Cook even claimed a hat-trick on day two.
While he will provide a stern test for Kent’s batsmen, Bell-Drummond is optimistic they will be up for the task.
He said: “He’s a brilliant bowler, his record is outstanding. But every day is a new day.
“We will just try to take it ball-by-ball, take him through to a second spell, then a third spell and try to build partnerships against him.
“But it’s not just him. Jamie Porter is a good bowler, as is Simon Harmer and Shane Snater.
“They’re a good attack and they are always up the top-end of the table for a reason. It will be a challenge – but I feel the guys are in a good place.
“We have got a lot of aspects covered.”
Another among Essex’s ranks is young wicketkeeper-batsman Jordan Cox, who left Kent to join them in the close season.
In his first competitive match for his new side, Margate-born Cox top-scored with 84 in the first innings, before he got a second-innings golden duck.
Bell-Drummond revealed: “A lot of the guys, including myself, are still in touch with him.
“On the pitch, we will keep it strictly business. He’s a very good player, so I just hope that we can get him early.”
Kent were steered to their draw against Somerset in relatively comfortable fashion in the end by Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly (107 not out and 110) after Kent had been left reeling at 68-3 on the final day at one stage, despite vice-captain Jack Leaning’s 32.
Bell-Drummond was pleased to see the trio’s experience come to the fore.
He said: “Three, four and five, they’re important positions in the order.
“We have all played a lot of cricket – especially Joe – so I’m glad that we could all step up on Monday. That’s what is expected of us as three senior players. It’s a good, positive start.
“I know Jack is going to continue in that form and get a big one soon. But for myself and Joe, we couldn’t have had a better start to the season.
“Hopefully, we go from strength to strength.”
Bell-Drummond also gave his views on the expanded trial of the Australian Kookaburra ball, being used in up to four rounds of the County Championship this summer following the two-round trial last term.
“I didn’t mind it,” he said. “I think it’s good that we have different types of balls in the County Championship.
“Obviously, it can go a bit soft quite quickly. You just have got to have different plans. I would have said it probably suits the faster bowlers but, hearing about Sam Cook, he’s still just as lethal.
“I think it’s good. It brings spin into the game. To be honest, it’s an early-season game and the wicket was a very good wicket for April.
“It’s a good challenge, I’m not going to complain. I scored a triple-century against a Kookaburra ball!”
