Kent head coach Matt Walker has heaped praise on departing director of cricket Paul Downton, describing his appointment as the most significant decision ever made by the club.

Downton, 66, will retire at the end of this season after more than five years with Kent.

“It’s very sad to hear that news,” said 49-year-old Walker.

“Obviously, we had spoken about it for a little while and Paul had been thinking about it for a little while.

“We had never had a director of cricket before 2018, but I think we realised we needed a director of cricket to keep up with modern times.

“The fact it was Paul was the most significant cricket decision that was ever made at this club.

“The impact he’s made is incredible.”

Former England managing director Downton initially was appointed to the role in January 2018 after the ex-international wicketkeeper played for Kent in the 1970s.

In his time as Kent director of cricket, he saw Kent Spitfires lose to Hampshire in the 2018 Royal London One-Day Cup Final before they won the T20 Blast in 2021 and then claimed the Royal London One-Day Cup last year.

Walker said: “They’re going to be a very hard pair of shoes to fill because Paul has done it absolutely perfectly, in my opinion.

“My relationship with him, I couldn’t ask for anymore.

“He has been very supportive - always there when you need him but without being overly-involved.

“He has let coaches get on with their jobs and supported them as much as he can when you need him.

“It’s been five or six years now. He wants to move on and retire.

“The things he has put in place will move the club forward. Hopefully, the next person will do it in a very similar way.

“I’m sure Paul will be around and a phone call away if I need anything.

“I thank him for everything he has done. He has certainly made my job easier.

“It’s been a very successful working relationship.”

Kent return to action against Warwickshire at Canterbury in the County Championship from tomorrow as they aim to move on after failing to qualify for the T20 Blast knockout stages.

But they will do so without batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond, who is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after he got injured in Kent’s most recent T20 Blast rain-affected home loss against Sussex Sharks.

Australian bowler Wes Agar is also unlikely to feature but experienced Joe Denly could recover from a back problem in time.

Walker, who expects to be without Sam Billings but didn’t rule out him being involved in their season run-in despite having passed the captaincy to Jack Leaning for the longest format, said: “They’ll be no Deebs [Bell-Drummond].

“He has a hamstring injury, which will probably be a month, I guess. I doubt he’ll be fit this month.

“Joe, we will assess. It’s a back niggle that, hopefully, settles down in time. Come Monday, we hope he will be good to go.

“Wes is unlikely - that’s the honest truth. This game will probably come too quickly for him.”

But Walker is optimistic 26-year-old Agar will be fit to return against Essex at Chelmsford in their second of two red-ball Division 1 games left this month after the Warwickshire game before The Hundred and Royal London One-Day Cup begin.

Openers Tawanda Muyeye (Oval Invincibles) and Bell-Drummond (London Spirit), along with Dutch seam bowler Fred Klaassen (Manchester Originals), have been picked up in The Hundred wildcard draft this week.

Kent squad to face Warwickshire: Leaning, Bhuiyan, A.Singh, Compton, Cox, Denly, Evison, Finch, Qadri, Muyeye, Quinn, J.Singh, Stewart.