Rob Ferley and James Tredwell are good mates and used to share a house but now they are competing for the same spot in Kent’s four-day spin attack this summer.

Left-armer Ferley, back at Canterbury after two years with Nottinghamshire, always lived in the shadow of now-retired Min Patel in his first spell but has returned aiming to win a regular place in the four-day side.

Tredwell got the nod over Ferley for Tuesday's LV County Championship Division 2 opener against Northants.

Ferley said: "I sold Tredders my half in the property and am now living with my girlfriend in Sevenoaks. We were always chasing the same place before and have always said we want both of us to do well."

Ferley left to seek more opportunities at Trent Bridge and said: "It’s good to be back. But a month before the end of last season, I had no thoughts about leaving Notts.

"I was offered a two-year contract and spoke to cricket manager Mick Newell and second team coach Wayne Noon about my ambitions and how I could achieve them there.

"I told them honestly that if I stayed it would be because I didn’t get another opportunity elsewhere.

"I spoke to Keysy to test the water and I also had a chat with Middlesex and it snowballed from there.

"My two-year deal gives me time to establish myself and I’d like to think I have improved as a bowler but the acid test will come this year when I have more opportunities in four-day cricket."