Kent could be lining up Wayne Parnell for a return to the county cricket club next season.

The 21-year-old South African proved a popular signing when he joined in 2009 as a short-term replacement for Stuart Clark and could be high on their list of possible imports to spearhead Kent’s attack next summer.

Head coach Paul Farbrace would not be drawn on specific targets but said: "A left armer with a bit of pace is always exciting.

"Wayne did well for Kent and in signing an overseas player you always need to know what they bring to the side.

"Anyone you have prior knowledge about will always have an advantage over someone you don’t."

Parnell (pictured) made an immediate impression on his debut against Essex at Chelmsford, taking four wickets and scoring his maiden first class 50, in Kent’s 192-run win – a new world record margin of victory for a side made to follow-on.

He went back to South Africa but returned to dismiss Durham openers Phil Mustard and David Warner, both for nought, in the Twenty20 quarter-finals, at Canterbury.

Meanwhile, Parnell’s fellow South African Makhaya Ntini announced his retirement from international cricket this week but Farbrace was cool on the chances of him returning to Canterbury next summer.

He said: "I knew he was due to retire but the decision was delayed because he was in talks with Cricket South Africa.

"He could be available as a Kolpak player but if we did that and signed an overseas player as well, it would restrict the amount of performance-related pay available to us from the ECB."

Ntini, like Parnell, made an impact for Kent earlier this summer, again replacing Clark, who pulled out because of fitness issues.

He finished top of the Kent bowling averages, taking 24 wickets in five championship matches.