Skipper Sam Northeast says Kent need to come to terms with a frenetic playing schedule across two formats.

This week’s eight-wicket trouncing at home to Derbyshire in LV= County Championship Division 2 was sandwiched between seven NatWest T20 Blast fixtures and the busy schedule meant they had just one day to practise between a T20 defeat to Gloucestershire on Friday night and their return to red-ball action on Sunday.

Northeast said: "It’s not ideal, the schedule, but it was the same for Derbyshire and we just have to adapt quicker to the situation."

Kent are in the middle of a two-month run of seven Championship games that fall inbetween T20 dates and Northeast added: "I don’t think anyone likes the schedule we have got, going from one form to the other, but it’s the reality, it is what it is.

"We’re going to have to adapt quicker than that if we’re to be successful in either competition."

The 25-year-old backed the Spitfires to return to winning ways against Hampshire on Friday night after their second T20 defeat in South Group against Gloucestershire.

He said: "I was disappointed with our performance at Beckenham.

"We didn’t see the good energy we have been showing and didn’t express ourselves, which we have been doing in that format, which was the disappointing thing but if we can get back to that we’ll be OK.

"I have no doubt that in front of a good Canterbury crowd, we’ll produce the goods."

Calum Haggett and Fabian Cowdrey have side strains that need to be monitored ahead of Friday, according to Northeast, although assistant coach Matt Walker rated James Tredwell’s hopes of a return as 60/40 against.

Northeast added: "David Griffiths is another who needs managing – all these guys, hopefully we can get them fit but we have to wait and see."

In-form Northeast was his side’s leading scorer again against Derbyshire and has scored 666 runs in his last 12 innings in both forms.

He said he did not feel under pressure to do it all himself but added: "Any contribution I can make – it’s my job as captain to hopefully lead from the front.

"It would have been nice for the batting unit to fire this week but I think it’s due."