Jordan Cox thinks Kent will be disappointed with anything less than a top-five finish on their return to the top tier in the County Championship.

Kent are back in Division 1 this summer, with the competition reverting to two divisions once more after two seasons under revised structures due to the Covid pandemic.

Wicketkeeper Cox is excited to pit his wits against the best in the country - and is certainly setting his sights high.

“There are 10 teams in there and, if we finish below fifth, we will probably be pretty upset,” claimed the 21-year-old who made his debut in 2019 when Kent finished fourth in Division 1.

“I don’t think we are just taking part at all.

"We are going to be fighting for one of the top spots, and I honestly believe that.”

Cox says Kent have built a strong squad, which he hopes will help to bring the best out of the players, for their 2022 campaign.

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“There is a really strong side," he admitted. "We have got a really good squad here which is good - it’s what we need.

“If you are not playing to your potential, then you get dropped. Kent haven’t had that for a while.

“But now there is a lot of fighting for spots which is good. It’s going to bring the best out of us and help us.

“I’m really excited for the season to start and I think the boys are really excited too.

“I’ve got a feeling we’re going to have a good year.”

The bowling attack is looking especially strong with overseas signings Jackson Bird, George Linde, Matt Henry and Qais Ahmad all offering something different as Kent aim to compete across all formats.

Cox enthused: “There are some quality players.

“We have Matt Henry for the last seven Championship games who is a game-changer. He brings an X Factor.

"We have Jackson Bird coming in - they are two really good seamers, which will be pretty awesome and we have got a spinner (Linde).

“They’re going to tick all the categories we need to become that different level and I hope they are going to have really good seasons because it will help us tremendously.”

Cox admits spirits are high in Kent’s camp after last year’s successes.

He said: “We have got a lot of confidence, winning Division 3 and winning the Blast.

“It brings a lot of passion and thought to how we are going to go this year. We have won things now. We have won Division 3 - I know it’s not Division 1 - but we’re still winning something. Obviously, winning the Blast was great.

“Now, everyone’s spirits are high and hopefully it keeps everyone going.”

Even with captain Sam Billings playing in the Indian Premier League and missing the start of the season, Kent still have two options behind the stumps in Cox and 23-year-old Ollie Robinson.

Cox suggested: “Ollie has done a phenomenal job for the last two years with the gloves. You can’t fault him so, unfortunately for me, I’m going to have to wait my turn. But I’m willing to do that.

“When my time comes, I’ll make sure I pounce on it.

"I’ll be fighting for that keeping spot.”

Cox, who has also been kept on by the Oval Invincibles in 2022, spent part of his winter playing in the Australian Big Bash for Hobart Hurricanes.

“It was a good month there with Hobart,” he reflected.

“I managed to play one game, which was awesome - what an experience that was!”