SOUTH AFRICANS Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp will bring valuable continuity to the Kent dressing room this summer after re-signing as the county’s overseas players for 2006.

The Proteas pair, both on duty in the VB One-day International series against Australia and Sri Lanka, have agreed new contracts that took more than five months to negotiate.

Kent’s new captain Rob Key said: "Andrew and Justin contributed massively to last year’s campaign and we are all looking forward to seeing them again.

"As well as adding to the all-round performance of the team they are great examples to the younger players."

Chairman of cricket Graham Johnson, added: "Andrew and Justin provided an important balance to our squad last year and both are keen to play an even bigger part this season, particularly in one-day cricket.

"I know all our members and supporters will be pleased to hear they are returning."

Hall topped Kent’s championship bowling averages last year with 40 wickets costing 25.7 apiece and chipped in with 538 runs at a respectable average of 38.42.

Kemp made a sticky start to his 2005 campaign and was dropped from the side that took on Glamorgan, but he came good to finish second in the club’s four-day averages after scoring 527 runs at an average of 52.

He hit two centuries and two half-centuries and pocketed eight catches, mostly at slip, just one less than Hall who claimed nine.

Both were guilty of under-achievement in one-day cricket however, particularly in the Twenty20 campaign where Kemp’s big-hitting prowess temporarily deserted him.