Head coach Matt Walker has explained why club captain Sam Billings has been left out of Kent’s final away County Championship Division 1 squad this season.

Wicketkeeper Billings returned to relegation-threatened Kent’s 14-man squad for their drawn four-day game against Nottinghamshire in Canterbury last week but didn’t play as Jack Leaning captained the side and Harry Finch retained the gloves.

The 32-year-old won’t be involved at Taunton, either, with Kent’s match against Somerset starting from today.

He stepped down as Kent red-ball skipper in June but led Oval Invincibles to glory in The Hundred competition last month.

On Billings’ absence, Walker said: “It’s really important that everyone was around in the build-up to the last three games.

“Obviously, Sam is still captain of the club. Although he’s not the captain of the four-day stuff, he’s still captain of the club and still wanted to be around to help the group, offering his experience and just his presence, really. So he was in the wider squad.

“But last week, we felt, with Zak [Crawley] back, and Finchy having played really well behind the stumps, there wasn’t really room for Sam to come in. It’s the same this week.

“He’s struggled a bit in red-ball cricket this season and stepped away from the captaincy. I think it’s the right decision. It’s been a long time since he’s hit a red ball.

“We had to go with what we thought was the best team to win this game of cricket and it was the same last week.

“It’s great Sam has still been around. He’s been brilliant with Finchy, helping him with his keeping and being around the group.

“Everybody has a role to play in these last three games - whether you’re playing, around practice or carrying drinks. It’s really important that everyone is on the same page and trying to help achieve what we are trying to do.

“Not everyone is going to play. That doesn’t mean you drift off and shut down for the season. Sam’s been around and really helped the group.

“But the strongest side last week was what we put out on the field and it’s the same this week.

“Hopefully, that’ll all pay off.”

Only two points separate second-bottom Kent from Middlesex and safety in Division 1. But the weather is likely to be a factor in their match against Somerset.

“It’s not particularly great - but we can’t really worry about that,” noted Walker. “That’s out of our control.

“It may play a part, it may not, we can’t control it. All we can control is what we do and how we go about it.

“Nothing has really changed from last week. We find ourselves still needing to win this game of cricket so nothing has changed in that sense. I hope the attitudes, effort, desire and skill on show are as good as they were last Friday.

“If they are, we’ll, hopefully, get something out of the game.”

Opener Zak Crawley is unavailable for Kent, as he prepares to captain England during their three-match One-Day International series against Ireland, while New Zealand bowler Ben Lister has returned home after he sustained a hamstring injury against England last week.

All-rounder Grant Stewart (hamstring) and bowlers Nathan Gilchrist (hamstring) and Matt Quinn (abductor) also are sidelined.