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Matt Walker says he had an abundance of pride every time he played for Kent.
That’s what the assistant coach wants his players to show with the end of the season now firmly in sight.
Kent resume their disappointing LV= County Championship, Division 2 campaign at Derbyshire on Friday, the first of the final four games in the competition.
Second-bottom Kent, who have won just three of their 12 games in the competition, may appear to not have anything to play for given their position but Walker insists there will be no going through the motions.
Speaking before Wednesday’s Royal London One-Day Cup washout against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, which saw Kent progress to the quarter-finals, Walker said: “Every time you put the shirt on, you, as a player, owe it to yourself, club and supporters to go out there and perform to the best of your ability.
“That’s as it should be every game, regardless if it is at the end of the season or not.
“The pride you take from playing for Kent should give you all the motivation you need to get out there and put a decent shift in.
“I know how I felt about each time I walked out to play all those years ago.” But there is more than pride at stake as far as Walker is concerned.
He said: “We’ve not performed anywhere near as good as we should have in the championship and the table shows that.
“Now we’ve got a great chance to show what we are capable of in this format and it’s important we take it because there is no doubt that we are all frustrated with our red-ball performances.
“We know we are a much better side than what we’ve shown in the championship this season and there is no question we want to and need to, improve on it. It’s important that we finish the season with a bang and finish as high up as possible in the league.
“There is no question at all about not having anything to play for – there is plenty.”