Kent’s Joe Denly has detailed the level of preparation which took place ahead of the T20 Blast competition.

Spitfires got off to a winning start last week at home to Gloucestershire - just four days after their most recent County Championship clash finished - before they were beaten at much-fancied Surrey two days later.

For players, the task of chopping and changing between the different formats is a tough one.

There’s another busy week ahead for Kent, too. They host Somerset tonight before two further T20 South group matches away to Glamorgan this Friday and at home to Surrey on Sunday.

Denly said: “It’s part of the schedule, isn’t it? We’re well used to it now.

“Although we’ve been playing a lot of red-ball cricket in the past couple of months, a lot of preparation has gone into the T20s.

“It’s not as if we’ve just had a couple of nets in the last couple of days.

“There’s been a lot of focus and a lot of preparation.”

The break from County Championship cricket comes with Kent second-bottom in Division 1.

Denly said: “We’ve spoken about that. The red-ball has been disappointing, there’s no doubt about that.

“But to reset, I suppose to re-focus and put everything into white ball, that’s been great for us.

“Hopefully, it can kickstart our season.”

Denly has had slightly longer than his team-mates to adjust to playing shorter-format cricket, having been left out of the four-day team since mid-April. Instead, he’s been finding form for the 2nds.

“It’s been nice to have a couple of T20s for the 2nds and to get my eye in with the white-ball stuff,” said the 37-year-old, who has begun in the shortest format with a 31-ball 35 not out and a 15-ball 22.

“It’s always nice to get some preparations going into a really fun tournament.”

Denly wasn’t required to bowl in the win over Gloucestershire but opened the bowling in their 41-run defeat to Surrey.

The Spitfires had the home side 94-5 in the 13th over - only for all-rounder Sean Abbott to equal the fastest century in the T20 Blast off 34 balls, as they posted 223-5.

A 108-run opening stand between Tawanda Muyeye (59) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (52) gave Matt Walker’s men a chance before they were well pegged back.

“I think, with our bowling, we’re going to have to be adaptable throughout the season,” said Denly.

“There’ll be various different match-ups and that’s the way T20 is these days.”

Overseas Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson has endured a tough start with The Spitfires.

He went for 19 in his first over against Gloucestershire - albeit he pulled things back to end with figures of 2-26 - only to take the brunt of the Abbott onslaught to end with 1-53 at The Kia Oval.

“It’s so good to have such a world-class performer in our squad, not just for us as a team, but for the guys to learn off and just speak to,” insisted Denly.

“He’s going to be great for us.”

Kent have at least made a better start than they did last year when the 2021 winners’ dismal title defence saw them finish with only three group-stage wins.

Denly reckons, despite the setback at Surrey, their 2022 campaign is well behind them now.

“Last year was disappointing but I think we’ve put that to bed,” he added.

“This year is completely different, there’s a few new faces within the squad. We never take this competition lightly.”

One player yet to turn out for The Spitfires in the Blast this summer in their first two games has been white-ball specialist Alex Blake.

Denly thinks strength in depth in their squad could prove vital as the 34-year-old tries to earn a place in the side.

“You do need depth,” said Denly. “You need different players to come in and perform at different times.

“We’ve had Alex Blake sitting on the sidelines and he probably gets into most white-ball teams.

“To have that depth in our squad is going to be massive throughout the competition.”