Head coach Matt Walker says Kent are desperate to get back to winning ways to ensure they don’t drop out of the Championship promotion race.

This week’s rain-hit draw at Notts made it three games without a win in Division 2 and the visit of Northamptonshire to Beckenham from Monday (11am) is their final red-ball clash before the NatWest T20 Blast launches the following weekend.

Walker admits Kent ‘owe Northants one’ after their 10 -wicket humbling at Beckenham last September which dealt Kent a blow in their battle for promotion.

Walker said: “They are a talented side full of exciting individuals who can turn a game almost single-handedly. We have got to be on it. They beat us at Beckenham last year and will want to do it again.”

Kent dropped out of the top two after the four-wicket loss at Worcester last week while fourth-placed Northants are hot on their heels.

Walker said: “We want to win, we want to stay in the hunt for promotion and we want to bounce back after a couple of poor results.

“It’s not the end of the world, there is still a lot of cricket to be played. We have not been at our best in the past three games – although we should have won at Worcester – but we all know that and have addressed it with the guys."

Walker said his squad need to learn the lessons of the testing clash at Trent Bridge, which saw Kent struggle against the pink ball and Notts’ pace attack, giving up a first innings deficit of 191.

He added: “We need to have some perspective. You have to remember we were playing against probably the best attack in the entire country, in either division.

“Notts would be competing for the title in Division 1. They are flying and James Pattinson is one of the best bowlers in the world right now and has been blowing sides away with his pace and skill all year."

As for the pink Dukes ball, Walker said: “I don’t think it did a huge amount but enough to make life a little bit harder.

“Sighting the pink ball is not easy, it’s not much more than a pink blur whereas you can pick out the seam on the red ball. It did a bit more under lights, it misbehaved a bit more.

“Stevo (all-rounder Darren Stevens) found it difficult, he didn’t get his usual kiss off the wicket. When it gets older it’s more like a white ball, it gets softer and it’s nearly impossible to get a shine on it."

Stevens will miss the visit of Northamptonshire after being struck on the head by a Harry Gurney bouncer in the game at Trent Bridge.

The blow forced him to retire hurt in Kent's second innings after which he took no further part in the game.