New regime at Canterbury

Fulton will find it hard to match last season's batting form

Test Match Special commentator Simon Mann assesses Kent's prospects for the 2002 county season.

Kent have a new coach and are experimenting with the captaincy but they should build on last season's success provided the top order batsmen can maintain the level of performance displayed in 2001.

The county won the Norwich Union League - only their second Trophy in 23 seasons - and finished third in the championship.

It was a significant achievement after they narrowly avoided relegation from the First Division in 2000.

  Championship prediction

Top four but not title challengers

Their success was based on the free scoring of David Fulton, Robert Key, Matthew Walker and Ed Smith, all of whom averaged over 40.

Fulton, in particular enjoyed a sensational season scoring 1,729 championship runs and eight centuries.

Further success could yet bring him a Test call-up. He was on stand-by for England's tour of India, but, at 30, his age counts against him.

In the meantime, he has been rewarded with the captaincy of the side for championship games. Matthew Fleming will continue to take charge in one-day cricket.

It is a remarkable transformation for Fulton. A year ago he openly acknowledged that he had one season in which to save his career with the county after several years of underachievement.

New coach Ian Brayshaw has an excellent pedigree

He will lead a settled squad. There have been few arrivals or departures during the closed season, although he will be working with a new coach.

The former Australian test player John Inverarity was brought in last summer to advise on the club's structure. His main recommendation was the appointment of another Australian, Ian Brayshaw, as Director of Coaching. Brayshaw arrives on a two-year contract.

The two played together in the Western Australia side that won six Sheffield Shields in the late 60s and early 70s.

One of Brayshaw's first decisions was to send the club's young bowlers to Perth for specialised coaching with Dennis Lillee.

It will be interesting to see the effect on Martin Saggers and James Hewitt. Saggers is an underrated bowler who followed up his 57 wickets in 2000 with 63 more last season. His challenge is to become more than just an effective county bowler

  Kent 2002

Captain: David Fulton (Championship) Matthew Fleming (One-day)

Coach: Ian Brayshaw

Overseas player: Andrew Symonds

Main signing: Jamie Hewitt (Middlesex)

Departures: Alan Wells (retired), Ben Phillips (Northamptonshire)

Hewitt has signed after an ultimately disappointing career with Middlesex. He took 60 wickets in 1997 but has struggled with injury and loss of form.

He played no first-class matches in 2000 and only four last season, taking ten wickets. A change of county though can often lead to a change of fortunes.

The indications are that Mark Ealham has increased his fitness level during the winter. He has endured two seasons of underachievement - 24 wickets in 2000 and 23 last summer - and has drifted out of contention for England's one-day side.

He is only 31 and has not given up winning back his place for next year's World Cup, but a fractured knuckle means he will not be available for the start of the campaign.

Andrew Symonds has signed a new contract and will be the club's overseas player for the next two seasons. His presence, and the all-round quality of the squad, should make Kent contenders for another one-day competition.