Grant Stewart is hoping to play his way into a regular place in Kent’s first team this season.

The Australian-born fast bowling all-rounder made his List A debut during the club’s pre-season tour in Antigua.

He took eight wickets in five matches at an average of 19 as Kent were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Super50 tournament against Barbados.

The 24-year-old said: “It would be awesome to hopefully get an opportunity in all formats of the game this season. Hopefully, I can put in a few good performances and cement my place in the side.

“Last season, playing a lot of second XI cricket, helped me in the longer formats of the game.

“I have been around the squad for two years now and it has improved my cricket a lot.”

Stewart made his first-class debut for the club at the end of the 2017 season in Kent’s final Specsavers County Championship match against Glamorgan.

He took several wickets for the second XI in 2017 and was rewarded with a professional contract in August.

He was playing for Sandwich Town at the time in the Kent League, where he took 32 wickets in 18 league matches at an average of 19.72.

He said: “ Going back a few years, I did not think I would be in the position I am in now.

“To then make my List A debut against Guyana was special and playing against the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Andre Russell during the tournament was a fantastic experience."