Robbie Joseph went to Australia this week to continue his comeback with pre-season training a month away.

The 29-year-old Kent fast bowler has been working hard in the indoor nets at Canterbury for several weeks, after two shoulder operations in less than a year, but knows just how vital the next few weeks will be.

He said: "My aim is to go out there and get certain things sorted out in my game, working on run-ups, getting my line and lengths right, bowl more consistently and reduce the number of no-balls I concede.

“It can happen in the heat of the moment when you are charging in, but I don’t want to worry about that aspect of my game. I just want to focus on the business end of things.

“I want to be ready for pre-season, not half baked or overcooked, and that is the importance of the trip for me.”

The Kent squad return on Monday March 14, and the county have arranged two warm-up games

They face Lancashire in a three-day game at Beckenham starting on Monday March 28, and host Sussex in a one-day on Tuesday April 5.

The new LV County Championship Division 2 season starts against Essex at Chelmsford three days later.