Sam Billings says promotion from Division 2 of the Specsavers County Championship is just the start for Kent.

Billings has led his side to promotion, a Lord’s final and a quarter-final in the Vitality Blast in his first season as captain.

Kent secured their place in Division 1 last week following their victory over Glamorgan at The Spitfire Ground.

They missed out on a chance of winning the title after losing to Warwickshire but this ends an eight year absence from the top division with many players in the Kent side, like Billings, not having experienced Division 1 cricket.

He said: “We have to build on this and it is just a start. It is all about keeping on moving forward. We’ve started well and want to keep this going.

“We should really aim to stay up and be in that top half of the league next year. It is great for a lot of us as players, in my career I have never played Division 1 cricket, there’s no doubt it has been a huge goal of mine.

“We are nearly back to where we should belong to competing in all formats.

“We are not under any illusions it will be easy. It has been a tough slog this year. We have got the results and they have gone our way in tight games.”

Kent will have the task of continuing their success from the 2018 season.

Billings believes we have not seen the full potential from the squad and there is more to come, especially from the younger players.

He said: “We have to keep improving. This year has been a great year for the club but we have to think about what we can improve on and get better at as a group.

“There’s so much more to give in this group, which is the exciting thing. Grant Stewart and Harry Podmore are great examples of that.

“Matt Milnes has come, which is a huge addition to our side. Another bowler to add to our attack.”

The 27-year-old also thanked the support that the Kent fans have shown the team this season.

He added: “It is amazing to see the support. Kent cricket has a huge following around the country and not only in Kent.

“You see in a lot of away games we have a lot of supporters coming to see Kent cricket doing well and we really appreciate it.”

Billings was also named in the England Lions four-day squad to play Pakistan A in the UAE in November.

The touring side will play one four-day Test starting on November 18.