Jimmy Adams believes Kent’s performances in last season’s NatWest T20 Blast means they will play with even greater self belief this summer.

Kent were one of the surprise packages in 2015, reaching the quarter-finals before suffering a last-over defeat to Lancashire, and head coach Adams feels the squad has the talent to go even further.

The Spitfires launch their group programme against Somerset at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, on Friday 7pm.

Adams said: “We certainly fancy our chances against anyone and I know the players will all have learned and taken confidence from our performances last summer.

“The lads showed that they have the capacity to perform on the highest stage in this format and – just as important for me as their coach – did so consistently.

“We strung together strong performances over a good period of time and beat some pretty decent teams without having an overseas player ourselves.

“That also boosted our self-belief and has given us something else to build on for the start of this summer’s campaign.

“The guys are a year older, they’re more experienced and they felt the hurt of losing out in that tight finish to Lancashire. That’s an incentive in itself, because they walked away disappointed from that.

“We have now added Tom Latham to the mix and, in late June, we’ll welcome Kagiso Rabada.

“To have two internationals as the first names on your team sheet has to be a good starting point and it’s the first time since I came here that we’ve been fortunate enough to have such a great selection headache.”

Sam Billings – still on IPL duty with the Delhi Daredevils – is the only absentee while Kent are yet to decide whether Adam Rouse or Latham will keep wicket.