KENT may delve into the new county loan agreement system to bolster their wicketkeeping resources later this summer.

With number one choice Geraint Jones likely to be absent with England from May 20, Kent may agree to his understudy Niall O'Brien playing for Ireland in their ICC Trophy qualifiers in the last week in June and first week in July.

Kent's director of cricket Graham Ford has already tested the loan system in allowing Alamgir Sheriyar's return to his former county Worcestershire and has confirmed that the county are considering its use again.

The former South African Test coach said: "It's not an option to use our second overseas card on a wicketkeeper to join us for a week or two, so I can rule out any talk of us being linked with someone like Mark Boucher.

"But the loan scheme could help resolve the situation."