FORMER Kent and England spin bowler Derek Underwood MBE will be Kent County Cricket Club president in 2006.

Underwood is third in the list of Kent's most successful bowlers, taking 1,951 wickets for the county during a career spanning 24 years . His England career included 86 Test appearances and 26 one-day internationals.

He said: "I was delighted to learn that I had been nominated for the presidency of the club and am very honoured to follow in the footsteps of so many notable past presidents. I eagerly look forward to the year ahead."

Richard Collins, the 2005 president, said: "I am thrilled that Derek has agreed to be Kent’s president in 2006. He has had a long and well documented history with the Club and I wish him every success for the year ahead."