The cold, windy and wet weather that dogged the start of Kent's pre-season training at the turn of the month appeared to pass Amjad Khan by – the Danish-born pace bowler was too busy smiling.

While those around him shuffled about wearing three sweaters and with hands thrust deep into their pockets, Khan stripped down to his Lycra leggings, bowling boots and sleeveless jumper for an umpteenth spell in the nets.

Here was a man who was clearly delighted to be back at work, a cricketer who could see an end to his year-long injury nightmare.

Khan spent all of last season on the sidelines and missed out on an England A tour after a knee injury, picked up when fielding at Headingley in the tail-end of Kent’s 2006 championship campaign, flared up again.

The road to recovery has been a long one but Khan could not be happier now he is back off a full run-up.

The 27-year-old said: "I’d say I’ve done 90 per cent of what the other guys have in pre-season and that makes me pretty happy right now.

"All the specialists said pre-season training would be crucial and so far, touch wood, it's all gone well.

"I’ve cut out diving in the field for now, we can build that up as and when, because it’s bowling that I want to focus on.

"There have been a few aches and pains in other areas of my body, that’s to be expected, but the knee has felt as good as anything."

Khan added: "What with the new signings (Mahmood and Kemp), Martin Saggers, Simon Cook and Robbie Joseph all fully fit again and Yasir Arafat returning for another season, we now have more much strength in depth to our seam attack and I’m looking forward to us all going hunting together as a pack."