Matt Walker pens new contract with Kent

Kent head coach Matt Walker has signed a contract extension with the club and will remain in charge at the Spitfire Ground until at least the end of the 2022 season

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Kent head coach Matt Walker has signed a contract extension with the club and will remain in charge at the Spitfire Ground until at least the end of the 2022 season.

The 46-year-old has been at the club since 2017 following a spell as assistant coach since 2014.

Walker spent 16 years as a player at Kent, scoring in excess of 12,000 runs and helped the county to Sunday League triumphs in 1995 and 2001. He also top-scored for Kent in the 2007 T20 Cup final win over Gloucestershire.

Under the former left-hander’s leadership, Kent achieved promotion to Division One of the County Championship, as well as reaching the final of the One-Day Cup, in 2018.

_{Walker scored over 12,000 runs for Kent}

On remaining at Kent, Walker said: “I’m extremely pleased to commit to Kent for at least two more seasons.

“We are building a squad here that can compete for trophies and one that I hope the county can be proud of.

“We have come a long way as a Club over the last few years and I know how hard everyone here is working to keep raising standards. I’m excited to see what the next two years brings.”

Kent’s director of cricket, Paul Downton, said: “I am delighted that ‘Walks’ has extended his term as head coach.

“Since he was appointed in 2017, Matt has created an environment where young players have thrived and overall standards have been raised both on and off the field.  His recent work with the England men’s squad shows how well thought-of he is as a coach.

“With Simon Cook and Mike Yardy in place, our members and supporters can be confident that the club is in good hands as Walks leads the coaching team into the next 150 years of the club’s history.”

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