Darren Stevens didn’t want to leave Kent at the end of his professional playing career but concedes now it’s a move that may have been for the best.
Stevens is back at Kent as a bowling consultant this summer in a move that resembles something of a homecoming, having become one of the county’s most legendary all-rounders in his 17 years with the club.
Upon learning his playing days were numbered at the end of the 2022 season, Stevens had expressed a desire to stay, even just as a coach, but now reflects that time away may have helped him become a better coach as he aims to make his mark in a different capacity these days.
“[Then-director of cricket] Paul Downton, obviously, disagreed,” said Stevens, now 50, who has also held coaching positions in the women’s game with Essex Women and South East Stars.
“Who knows? I guess he was right to a certain extent because I feel like it’s benefited my coaching (leaving Kent).
“I never wanted to leave. I wanted to carry on playing but I wanted to stay around.
“I’ve been away for two or three years now – I’ve always been around, I’ve always popped in to see the lads and kept it fresh – but I’m excited to be around now.”
Stevens is refusing to give too much thought to potentially taking on a head coach position one day as he relishes the chance to give back to the game after a glittering 25-year career.
While the thought of holding the top job isn’t necessarily a daunting one for him, he’s aware such a position would limit his chances of taking a hands-on approach.
“I got offered a couple of director of cricket jobs at schools,” he said. “When I read the description of the job, it got to about page 15 before you got to coaching!
“I came out of the game three years ago and went into coaching – men’s stuff, women’s stuff and kids, and all different ages in my private coaching.
“I just wanted to give as much as I can. I feel like I’ve got a lot of knowledge inside that will, hopefully, help a lot of people.
“A head coach role? I don’t know. I have thought about it. I still feel like I’ve got a long way to go in my coaching career yet.
“I just want to give as much as I can and, as a head coach, I don’t feel like you can coach as much.
“I want to coach as much as I can and help as many people as I can. We’ll just see where that goes.”
Stevens is also working with Simon Cook, having found himself playing under the ex-bowler when Cook was bowling coach and in temporary charge of Kent Spitfires’ trophy-winning One-Day Cup squad in Stevens’ final season as a player.
On Cook’s transition from player to bowling coach to director of cricket, Stevens said: “How he has done that, I have no idea!
“He was always sort of bee-lined for that sort of role, though.
“I think Simon would be a great head coach, as well. He did that when we won in the One-Day Cup in 2022.
“From day one, he made everybody feel really relaxed and just had a really good way about him.”
There’s a new head coach at Kent since Stevens was last officially involved at the county.
Adam Hollioake replaced Matt Walker in that role and, while Hollioake’s first season proved a tough one, Stevens thinks the team is better for that experience.
“It needed a freshen up,” added Stevens. “Walks did eight years – and it’s a long time for a head coach. I know he would have stayed here until ‘day dot’ because he lives down the road and he’s a Kent lad.
“But as a group of players, youngsters coming through, Walks is more of your best mate and some of these lads probably just needed a stern word every now and again.
“Walks could do that – but it was a different feeling. Adam is fresh into coaching as a head coach. The word on the street is he’s quite hard-nosed and, playing against him, he certainly was!
“As a coach, sometimes, you need that. I’m excited for him. Another year in, I think he’ll only start to get better.”
Kent will aim to make it four wins from five red-ball games when they face Middlesex at Canterbury from tomorrow.
