All-rounder Darren Stevens on life after Kent, coaching, playing for St Lawrence & Highland Court this summer and a move to Sussex which failed to materialise

For somewhere which had been home for years, Darren Stevens has found it tough to head back to Kent’s Canterbury ground since his departure.

Stevens has found himself without a county contract for the first time since the 1990s this year.

The 47-year-old has, instead, got stuck into coaching and playing club cricket.

But with his summer not starting competitively until mid-May, he endured more than a month of watching his old team-mates in action.

“I was literally trying to keep myself as busy as possible,” he explained.

“I’ve had 27 pre-seasons. All of a sudden, it comes to a stop - not by your choice, but by somebody else’s.

“March came around and I’m usually in with the lads, training and playing.”

Kent have endured a slow start to their County Championship Division 1 campaign without him. They won their opener against Northamptonshire but are winless since.

All-rounder Stevens, whose legendary status was recognised at the end of last season with Kent’s No.3 shirt retired, said: “Fair enough, Northants, that was a good win. Then you start playing the better sides.

“I think I’ve only been to the ground a couple of times, I live a couple of minutes down the road.

“But I’ve found it quite difficult, not going to play.

“I’ve packed my diary with coaching and just trying to keep busy.”

Even after leaving Kent, veteran Stevens still wanted to play on this summer.

He spoke to Ash-born Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace - a former England assistant coach and Kent director - but a move never materialised.

Stevens explained: “I had a really nice meet with Farby.

“It was nice to catch up anyway because we’ve known each other for years.

“They have got lots of young players but not many to sponge off - and this was before they signed