by Kevin Redsull

Geraint Jones wants to pin down a regular top-three spot in Kent's batting line-up this summer.

Kent's former England wicketkeeper finished last season as the No 3 man in their County Championship matches and said:

"Hopefully I will get the chance to carry on there this season. It's a tough position but I enjoyed it, and I have set my winter training around batting at No 3."

Jones finished 2008 with 668 first-class runs at an average of 30.38, which represented a reasonable

return after he had struggled early on with the willow in hand.

"I was happy with my wicketkeeping last year, but I didn't start the season well with the bat and that is something I have been trying to address this winter."

And, according to Jones, all his Kent team-mates have been prompted to take a hard look at themselves following the bitter disappointment of relegation from the LV Championship first division.

"We are a proud county and a proud bunch of players and we want to be playing in the top division.

"Being relegated left a sour taste in the mouth after what had been - up to the last few weeks - a pretty successful season.

"The guys' response has been to look just a little bit deeper at how they can improve in different departments to make sure it doesn't happen again."