The appointment of Kent's new head coach Adam Hollioake is something of a left-field decision, admits director of cricket Simon Cook.

Former England all-rounder Hollioake has been named as Matt Walker’s successor on a three-year contract this week.

Cook has revealed Kent’s board interviewed approximately 20 candidates and, ultimately, why they decided to go for Hollioake.

He explained: “It has been a fairly long process - but that was a deliberate thing to make sure we were able to get a good spread of candidates.

“We were able to make a nice, calculated plan, before we made a decision so we could take everything in and look at all aspects.

“It was encouraging to see - from the 20 or so applicants we had for the role, for which we have had some really strong candidates - lots of international candidates and lots of coaches with very strong backgrounds in county cricket.

“Then, we had some left-field options and Adam is a little bit in that left-field (bracket) because of his lack of head coach experience.

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“But the thing that stood out for us was he’s a very clear leader and has very good leadership skills, and he’s inspirational, as well. He’s one of those characters who you’re just happy listening to.

“You listen to him intently because he’s a thoughtful man and has got a lot of cricket experience. He interviewed really well.

“We had three sections within the interview process to try and make sure we got the right person, looking at three main areas. One was kind of a ‘safe bet’. That was nice and easy, and a candidate that was plug and play almost.

“That was a highly experienced international coach and a domestic UK coach, who knew county cricket inside and out. It would have been so easy to just kind of plug him in.

“We had another coach from overseas, who had a lot of head coach experience but not much in county cricket.

“Then, there was Adam Hollioake, who was a bit of a wildcard but he really did stand head and shoulders above everyone else with that leadership and inspirational quality, which I think we need right now with where we’re at as a club. I think it’s the right time to go down that route.

“It was a pretty rigorous process but I was really happy with the end result.”

Hollioake, 53, takes over from Walker almost three months after he had confirmed he was going to step down after Kent’s 2024 summer, which resulted in relegation from County Championship Division 1.

“The time that was taken was around doing a lot of due diligence around the candidates we had that came through but, also, when we shortlisted,” Cook said.

“That meant having a personality or side-profile for each of those coaches and working out how those coaches would fit into our existing leadership groups with the three captains in DBD (Daniel Bell-Drummond), Sam (Billings) and Jack (Leaning). Then also, the other coaches because we have existing profiles on them.

“We went into quite some depth to make sure Adam would fit in with all of those personalities, making sure they would work well together. That’s not to say that he’s going to be a ‘Yes man’ - far from it.

“But everyone understands where everyone is and understands each other’s preference for working styles, how the environment will work and how everyone interacts with that.

“That took quite a bit of work to do that and then ensure it aligns with getting the best candidate.”

Hollioake, presently located in Australia, will not arrive until 2025, but him and Cook are already putting plans in place for their pre-season programme.

Cook said: “That’s going to come around quickly, it generally does.

“January disappears very quickly and, with February having a few less days, that kind of disappears.

“Then suddenly, you’re kind of into March before you know it. We have some games locked in - Sussex, Essex and then we have got a three-day game against Loughborough [University] - through the middle to late period in March.

“Adam will join us on February 10. I’ve got some calls with him before Christmas where we will map out a few bits and pieces as to how he sees that February and March period going.

“The players are buzzing. There’s a lot of excitement around the place and it’s all looking really good.”

Cook revealed Hollioake, who became the first international cricketer to compete professionally as a Mixed Martial Artist in 2012, is finishing off a doctorate in psychology.