by Andrew Gidley

Kent have plans in place to keep newly-signed Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark for more than just one season.

The 34-year-old pace man will begin his third spell in English county cricket -having previously spent time with Hampshire and Middlesex - for Kent against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on April 15.

Clark, pictured, will spend an initial two months with the side but team director Paul Farbrace won’t rule out the prospect of him staying longer.

Farbrace said "We have an option for a third month, if we feel that is the way forward and he isn’t selected for the Australian Test series against Pakistan which is being played here."

Clark has won 24 caps, taking 94 wickets at an average of less than 24 each, but hasn’t figured since The Ashes series defeat last summer. When Kent first wanted to sign him last summer, they attracted criticism that they were providing him with valuable playing time in English conditions.

Farbrace said "Stuart wants to play for at least three more years and we have a two-way option in place for him to come back in 2011.

"He is not playing IPL this year but will be on the (IPL) register for 2011."

Kent have a spinner lined up for the second half of the summer and are also in talks with two experienced seam bowlers who Farbrace says are not overseas or Kolpak signings but "tried and tested with good records."

He said: "We are not dragging our heels in signing players but are trying to create a selection process that offers flexibility in case we have Test call-ups during the season."

Meanwhile, Robbie Joseph played a full part in the county’s first winter training session at Canterbury on Tuesday.

He is continuing his recovery from a shoulder operation and was one of a dozen players involved, with skipper Rob Key, Simon Cook and Joe Denly also taking part.

Farbrace said: "Robbie is probably back a bit earlier than we expected but he bowled with good pace and control and is working hard on building up the joint."