Head coach Matt Walker is delighted to see Kent’s players earning national recognition.

Fast bowler Nathan Gilchrist and wicketkeeper Jordan Cox have been selected in squads for England Lions' tour of Sri Lanka.

With opener Zak Crawley having become a regular in recent years in the England Test squad, and skipper Sam Billings also in and around England squads across various formats, it shows the cream of Kent’s crop are certainly well thought of nationally.

“It’s part of our job - as coaches and as a club - to try and produce England players,” said Walker.

“Obviously, the other side of that is to win games of cricket and win trophies.

"But we want to produce England players as well. That’s our responsibility.

“It’s great that we have been able to do that. It shows things are working here and we’re doing the right things and the players are doing the right things.

• New Kent batting coach named

• Batsman pens new Kent deal

“We have got an environment for those guys to succeed and develop and become the best players they can become.

“That’s really important to us. We’re always very proud when people go on and play for the Lions or go on and play for the full England side.”

Bowler Matt Milnes and wicketkeeper-batsman Ollie Robinson also earned Lions call-ups while with Kent, although they moved on to Yorkshire and Durham respectively at the end of last season.

Walker said: “We have had a few now in Matt and Ollie previously, Coxy and Joe Denly and, obviously, Sam still in and amongst it.

“Now, we have Nathan as well. It’s great. You want players to come to Kent, knowing they can go on and play for England.

“I think it shows a pathway for everybody that you can be at Kent and go on and succeed and play for higher honours. That’s what we try to facilitate.

“But we need to make sure that we are winning games of cricket and we’re progressing as a county and challenging.

“But, hopefully the by-product of that is young players - or any player - going on and earning high honours for the country.

“I think it’s very aspirational to see your team-mate going on and representing England at any level, and it shows that it can be done at counties like Kent.

“Whenever it happens, people are very proud of the player and proud of what everyone is doing to help this guy succeed. It’s good.

“I hope we have more. There’s definitely people that can go on and do the same and hopefully, over the next few years, we’ll see more players represent the full England side.

“That’s the dream, obviously, and the goal for everybody.

"We’ve had pretty good representation over the last four or five years. Long may that continue.”

Cox is in England Lions’ one-day squad due to play three games against Sri Lanka A in Colombo, with the opening match scheduled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile Gilchrist - who was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, but moved to England in 2016 - was part of the England Lions Test squad for two games against Sri Lanka A, but didn't get selected in either 11.