Kent head coach Matt Walker on the signing of leg-spinner Matt Parkinson as they visit Essex in County Championship Division 1

The signing of England international leg-spinner Matt Parkinson has been described as a major coup for Kent by head coach Matt Walker.

Parkinson, 26, is set to join from Lancashire this November on a three-year deal, having played one Test for his country to date.

“It’s a great signing,” said Walker. “It’s a real coup for the club to have Matt coming.

“His record is outstanding. At only 26, he has a lot of cricket left.

“I don’t want to comment on what happened at Lancashire - that’s their business - but we realised that Matt’s not playing as much as he’d like.

“The fact he wants to come to us is brilliant news.

“When you sign a player of that quality, it gives everyone a huge lift. I’m thrilled about it.

“Usually, the queue for a player like that is quite long and distinguished. We’ve had dialogue with him.

“He is very clear on what his ambitions are and he sees it happening at Kent.”

Parkinson - whose twin brother, Callum, plays at Leicestershire - has featured in only one County Championship game for Lancashire this summer, in which he claimed six wickets.

Instead he has spent time on loan with Durham, while he has featured for Lancashire in their T20 Blast campaign.

All-rounder Joey Evison signed for Kent at a similar stage last year. He agreed a three-year contract then but also immediately joined Spitfires on loan for their successful Royal London One-Day Cup season.

Asked if a similar agreement could be in the offing with Parkinson for Kent’s 50-over defence, which begins next month, Walker replied: “I don’t know is the honest answer.

“We have asked that question. That was a ‘No’ but, obviously, he has gone off and played in Division 2 for Durham.

“There could be an opportunity maybe but it depends what Lancs are