Kent's Paul Downton predicts there is a huge summer of cricket ahead with a home Ashes series around the corner.

A new attacking “Bazball” style adopted by England has taken the world by storm, ahead of Australia’s visit with the first Test set to start at Edgbaston in June.

Kent’s Zak Crawley has kept his opening spot for England in recent years, despite largely disappointing form, while his county captain Sam Billings made his Ashes debut in Hobart at the start of last year.

Director of cricket Downton said: “People can’t wait for the Ashes, can they?

“I think it’s something everybody is looking forward to, with the way England are playing their cricket.

“From a county point of view, there’s some very good players playing county cricket.

“They’ll want to showcase themselves and get towards the international set-up too.”

The 2023 season looks set to be the first in 20 years where legendary all-rounder Darren Stevens will not be seen competitively playing in a Kent shirt.

Downton concedes they will miss the popular 46-year-old’s presence but hopes other players will be able to step up in his absence.

“Obviously we’ll miss Darren,” he said.

“It’s the first season that he’s not been around for a long time but I think that just creates a great opportunity for the rest of our bowling attack to really step up. I’m really looking forward to seeing that.

“You can see the rapid rise of Nathan Gilchrist, who’s only 22.

“He was our leading wicket-taker last year and got on a Lions tour so he’s, obviously, well-thought of amongst everybody.

"We’re making some progress.”

While Stevens has moved on, another experienced long-serving player, 37-year-old batting all-rounder Joe Denly, has extended his Kent contract until the end of the 2025 season.

Asked if Denly, who led the Kent Spitfires to their Royal London One-Day Cup triumph last year, could still be around for many years to come, Downton replied: “I think so.

“I think Joe is naturally a very fit guy and age is just a number, really. What he does bring is a heck of a lot of experience and he’s a great influence in the dressing room.

“The way he captained the side in the Royal London victory last year was outstanding. I do think he’ll be around [for a while yet], and we’re excited he’s committed his future to us.

“He’s such a vital player when he’s playing well.”

Alongside Denly and 41-year-old Michael Hogan, plenty of Kent’s young talents have committed their futures to the county, too. Downton thinks there is a good balance to the squad.

He said: “We’re always looking to produce our own players, that’s the first thing.

“We’ve had a good crop with Zak Crawley, Jordan Cox, Ollie Robinson, Marcus O’Riordan and Jas Singh, and there’s a couple of very talented 17-year-olds. I can easily see a couple of those joining the staff in the next year or two. Crawley is only 25!

"Then there’s Cox at 22, Joey Evison, Nathan Gilchrist and Hamid Qadri, who really came on strong last year. So we have a lot of really good young players, including Tawanda Muyeye, who is a real talent.

“There’s an exciting core of young players and then the mature cricketers now - the likes of Sam himself, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Jack Leaning and Matt Quinn - and then you have got real experience in Joe Denly and Michael Hogan.

"I think it’s a good blend.

“We’re a relatively small squad still so everybody thinks they have got a chance of playing, but injuries can play a part.

“Keeping our seamers fit has to be one of our main aims and I’m sure we’ll see a bit more rotation than we had last year.”

Wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson played a key role in their 50-over success, although he’s now left for Durham.

But Harry Finch has penned a professional contract with Kent, having been drafted into their squad in the last two summers to cover injuries and Covid absences.

Downton tipped Finch to take the gloves for their title defence.

He said: “I think he can see, with Jordan and Sam in The Hundred, that he could easily be keeping in the Royal London One-Day Cup this year.

"That’s something he’s working very hard on.”