New Zealand international Matt Henry is to return to Kent next season.

Henry, who initially signed for Kent as an overseas player in 2018, taking 75 wickets in 11 matches to help them win promotion from County Championship Division 2 that year, was due to play for the county in 2020 - but the deal was scrapped because of the coronavirus crisis.

The 29-year-old fast bowler will, though, be back at the Spitfire Ground in 2022, the county have announced.

He is expected to join up with Kent from July 10 for up to seven County Championship matches and for the Royal London Cup.

Henry says he is hoping to lead the county to more glory after they won the T20 Blast competition and County Championship Division 3 this summer.

He said: “I have really good memories of playing for Kent in the past - I’m driven to bring more success to the county in 2022.

“It was fantastic to see Kent win silverware in 2021, and I know that further trophies are the target for everyone at the county next season.

“Hopefully, I can have an impact in making that happen.”

Kent director of cricket Paul Downton said: “We’re delighted to welcome Matt back to Kent for the second-half of the season.

“We know he will be a great influence on our dressing room and he has regularly shown himself to be a bowler of the highest quality in English conditions.

“He will boost an already strong seam attack for the latter stages of the County Championship run-in and will, I'm sure, play a significant role in the Royal London Cup as we aim to compete strongly across all formats.”

Henry was presented with a county cap by Kent in May 2018.

During his first stint as a Kent player, he achieved new first-class best bowling figures twice - firstly with 7-45 at Durham in April, before his current best of 7-42 against Northamptonshire that September.

In One-Day International cricket for New Zealand, he has taken 98 wickets in 55 matches, including taking a wicket against England in the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final, dismissing opener Jason Roy.

Kent have also signed opener Ben Compton as they start to plan for 2022.

Kent Women, meanwhile, will be in Group 6 of ECB's Women's County T20 tournament next year.

The 2021 South East Group champions will take on Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex in a four-team league format, with all still to play for on a regional finals day - a new addition for 2022 - on Sunday, May 8.

Sides will play each other twice on one day, with Kent starting with a trip to Hampshire on April 18.