FORMER Leicestershire player Darren Stevens was the resounding winner of Kent’s player-of-the-season award in his first season with Kent.

The 29-year-old right-hander attracted 39 per cent of the membership poll after scoring 1,277 runs at an average of 49.12 in his first campaign since leaving Grace Road.

Stevens finished third in the club’s championship averages and was ever-present in four and one-day teams in a summer that also saw him win his county cap.

Although he was unable to attend the presentation evening held at Leeds Castle’s Fairfax Hall, Stevens said he was "chuffed" to win the members’ vote.

"I’d already accepted a PCA invitation to play in their golf tournament in Marbella, but I was delighted to get a text through to tell me I’d won the award," explained Stevens.

"It was one of my aims to try and win an award but in truth I tailed off a little toward the end and I feared Rob Key or Martin van Jaarsveld might take it.

"I’m chuffed to bits that I won, obviously a little sad I wasn’t there to pick up the trophy, but it’s an outstanding end to my first year with the club."

Stevens now plans to relax playing golf and holidaying before heading off to Cape Town after Christmas for winter training.

On a night when all three of Kent’s new recruits picked up awards, the club’s first ever Kolpak signing Martin van Jaarsveld won the Denness award as leading run-scorer after hitting 1,778 in all forms of the game.

Former Middlesex seamer Simon Cook was presented with the Underwood award for leading wicket-taker with 65 victims in both four and one-day cricket.

The Ealham award for outstanding fielder went to the very safe hands of one-day skipper Matt Walker, who pocketed 22 catches and again excelled in his specialist position of backward point.