By Andy Baber
Div 2: Kent

LOSING their best four-day batsman on the eve of a fiercely competitive season was the last thing Kent needed going into the 2018 campaign.
But the arrival of Paul Downton, the former managing director of ECB, as the new director of cricket is a significant appointment.
Even with Sam Northeast leading the side with the bat, Kent were only able to finish in fifth in Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship last season.
A bright start under the guidance of former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who had an earlyseason spell as interim assistant co...