Robbie Joseph celebrates taking the match-winning wicket of Reece Topley against Essex Picture: Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO

by Alex Hoad

Kent paceman Robbie Joseph was delighted to have come through his LV= County Championship Division 2 comeback after two injury-plagued years.

Joseph took six wickets in the match - including three on the final morning - to help his side start the new season with a 57-run win over Essex at Chelmsford on Monday.

Despite concerns that the 29-year-old’s long-standing shoulder injury - which limited him to bowling just 27 overs in the Championship last season - would prevent him starting the game, the Antiguan-born fast bowler was named in the side.

He said: "I was always vying to get in the team and in my mind I was preparing as if I was going to play.

"There was a suspicion that I might not make it in time, but I got the opportunity to play and it was just a case of hoping to get through the game unscathed."

Joseph took 2-27 in eight overs in Essex’s first innings and added 4-25 in 13.1 overs to seal victory.

He revealed: "The bowling was fine, the first couple of throws from the field there was a little bit of hesitancy, but then I realised it was alright. It’s just a case of learning to trust your body again.

"After the game my shoulder was no stiffer than the rest of me, it’s just a case that it was not accustomed to the workload. I have general stiffness and soreness but that’s to be expected."

He added: "It was a good start for us but we’re not looking back, we’re already looking ahead to the next game.

"It would be good to get some more overs under my belt and if I can get a couple of wickets then even better.

"I just want to continue to play and do my best for the team.

"The batters look to be in good nick from my point of view and hopefully with some players to come back in we are only going to get stronger.

"We want to build on our good pre-season and keep winning for as long as we can."

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