Two former Kent men’s first-team players have been named as part of Kent Women’s “leadership group” for their 2025 season.
James Hockley, who made more than 100 appearances for Kent, has been appointed as Kent Women’s head coach after being a part of the coaching set-up in the 2024 summer.
He will be assisted by former Kent and England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones and Richard Durrant, who continues his coaching role with the side.
The trio will work with Lucy Arman, formerly the regional talent manager at the South East Stars and head coach of various female age-group squads in the Kent Talent Pathway programme.
She has been appointed as the club’s new head of women’s cricket ahead of Kent Women’s first campaign as a Tier 2 side.
Megan Belt will continue as captain after her first full season as Kent Women’s captain in 2024 – but David Smith will be stepping down as Women’s and Girls’ pathway manager.
Arman said: “I’m delighted to be Kent’s head of women’s cricket at what is an important time for us, heading into Tier 2 of the new set-up of English domestic women’s cricket.
“It’s no secret that we have an extremely strong recreational and pathway set-up for women’s cricket here at Kent – we hope to compete for honours in Tier 2 this season and stake our claim for Tier 1 status at the earliest opportunity.
“I’d like to thank Dave Smith for all of his hard work in 2024 on behalf of the players, staff and coaches. He certainly leaves Kent’s female set-up in a great position, heading into next year.
“I’ve been encouraged by the amount of talent we have here coming through the ranks, as well as by the triallists that have shown their intentions to be playing for Kent in 2025.
“We hope that this will result in a strong core of a side going forward.”
On stepping down from his position at Kent Women, Smith said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time as Women’s and Girls’ pathway manager.
“I’m proud to have set up the current structure and have more girls than ever playing representative cricket.
“There are a lot of fantastic young players coming through our talent pathway that can now, realistically, have a chance of making our Tier 2 squad.
“I wish the coaches, staff and players all the very best.”
Director of cricket Simon Cook said: “Lucy was the outstanding candidate in our thorough process of appointing our first head of women’s cricket and she has a track record of progressing talent through both our Talent Pathway and in the former regional set-up, too.
“She is joined by a fantastic group of coaches in Hockers, Jonesy and Richard – these are firm foundations that we can build success on in 2025 and beyond.”
Jones, now 48, spent more than a decade at Kent before he left in 2014 and was behind the stumps for England for their historic 2005 Ashes home victory over Australia. He is now back playing club cricket for Ash CC.
After trials at The County Ground, Beckenham, attended by multiple current county cricketers and exciting prospects, Kent Women’s full squad for the 2025 season will be confirmed following a winter training group made-up of successful triallists and Kent Talent Pathway players – many of whom featured for the first team in 2024.
