DARREN STEVENS

A few years ago, Paul Downton, Kent’s director of cricket, told me that my playing days were up and that the club would be letting me go. (As it turned out, there was life in the old dog yet!)
I told him I wanted to get into coaching, and he said I’d need some experience first. Being honest, I don’t have a lot to be grateful for to Paul Downton, but he did set me on my way with regard to coaching.
I did a lot of work coaching in South Africa, signing up to the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy and acting as player-coach for a local club. Over the last couple of years I’ve been...