Kent director of cricket Paul Downton says South African all-rounder George Linde can help fill a void not properly covered since 2018

The arrival of South African all-rounder George Linde at Kent can help fill a void which has not properly been covered for four years, according to director of cricket Paul Downton.

Linde, 30, has agreed to join on an all-format deal for the next two years.

He is one of four overseas players due at The Spitfire Ground and will provide an option as an experienced left-arm spinner, the sort of frontline spinner which Downton says Kent haven’t really had since James Tredwell retired in 2018, as well as batting in the middle-order.

Afghanistan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad is back for the Spitfires’ T20 Blast defence this year while Australian seamer Jackson Bird is available for up to the first six County Championship games as they return to Division 1 and headed for the UK earlier this week.

New Zealander Matt Henry is then expected to join up with Kent from July 10.

Commenting on the make-up of Kent’s 2022 squad, Downton said: “I think it’s a work-in-progress, going back a number of years, really.

“I think the younger guys that have come in over the last two or three years are all just gaining experience.

“Someone like Jordan Cox, who joined us (in the senior set-up) aged 17, was man-of-the-match in the final in the Blast last year. He is now 21 and a much better player than he was.

“He had his opportunity opening the batting last year, for example, and learnt a huge amount. You could say that about a number of players - we’ve got some good, young players.

“But also, where we have had the odd - I won’t say weakness - but where we have looked to improve, George Linde is coming in as an experienced left-arm spinner.

“We have got some very talented young guys on the staff but we haven’t really had an experienced spinner since James