Kent head coach Matt Walker wants side to emulate Essex’s approach to batting and bowling

Kent head coach Matt Walker insists they’ve got to get the basics right if they want to compete with the best in the country.

Having escaped from a rain-affected final day at Essex on Monday with a draw - thanks largely to teenage debutant Jaydn Denly - Walker wants his players to learn from their opponents.

Essex were the dominant side for long periods with bat and ball, albeit Kent showed plenty of class in their first innings with hundreds for Ben Compton and skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond.

“If you compare how they bowled to how we bowled, it was a good wicket but there was a length you could bowl as a seamer and they hit that area a lot,” stated Walker.

“That’s what they do, and they’re relentless. They do their basic skills well and we need to be better at that. It’s been a problem for a little while, being really ruthless in that area.

“It’s a skill thing and you’ve got to be able to do that at this level. That’s what the best sides do. I’ve said it a lot, when you play on good wickets it’s really crucial, especially with the Kookaburra ball.

“Essex did find assistance and if you live and die in that area, things start going your way as they showed. Our basic skill level has to be better if we want to get ourselves out of these situations.

“They were ahead of the game and once they got 150-200 ahead they were in control of the situation.

“It was difficult for Matt Parkinson, it’s very short straight at Chelmsford and someone who likes to bowl a fuller length as a spinner, they took him on and it came off. All of a sudden, the field was spread and batting became very easy.

“It was tough to watch. This is one of the best sides in the country. Essex are not far behind Surrey, and we want to aspire to be as good as them,