By Andrew Gidley

Paul Farbrace is hailing Kent Cricket Club’s pre-season trip to Dubai as a great success and is not ruling out repeating the exercise again in the future.

The party of 16 return home on Thursday after a week’s warm weather training and director of cricket Farbrace (pictured) said: "We made the trip based on reasons which were right for our cricket preparation.

"We are conscious the county is not in a great position financially but the club were great to back us and it’s something I hope we can build into the budgets going forward.

"It hasn’t been a jolly. The boys have worked hard and members and supporters will now expect the players to hit the ground running. We know that and why shouldn’t they?

"The watchword before we left was quality and that is what we have got.

"The facilities are the best in the world and all the batsmen have enjoyed good workouts, while the bowlers have got value from bowling on pitches with good pace and bounce.

"The weather has been excellent and has encouraged us to train properly with real purpose and everyone has made good progress."

Kent continue their build-up with a three-day practice match against Lancashire at Beckenham starting on Monday. The exact make-up of fixtures depends on the weather, with the prospect of a two-day and one-day game between the sides.

Given the economic climate, do you think it was necessary to send the players to warm weather training in Dubai? Have your say below.