Away from the media spotlight that surrounds the England team and having re-kindled his love for the game, Kent’s wicketkeeper-batsman Geraint Jones is very much looking forward to the new campaign.

At 31, Jones has plenty of cricketing summers ahead of him and, be it out in the middle, or when feeding the livestock on his smallholding near Canterbury, he feels most comfortable when in leafy Kent.

Jones admits that 2007 proved a gloomy time for him. Cast aside by the England set-up, he found it difficult to make the transition back to the ‘bread and butter’ game of county cricket.

Jones described his own demeanour during the early stages of last season as something akin to a zombie-like state and it was with great relief that he finally found some batting form midway through the season.

With his annus horribilis behind him, Jones can now afford to smile and enjoy again the career that brought him half way around the world and earned him an MBE, only to then turn its back on him.

Talking just after the county’s pre-season fitness camp in Portugal, Jones said: "It was nice to get away as a group, work hard together and now we’re at a point where we’re all looking forward to getting out there in the middle.

"There’s lots of anticipation, so there has been some frustration for me and the rest of the lads because the bad weather has meant we’ve not had much time outside.

"Because of my England commitments in the past, I’ve sort of missed out on Kent pre-seasons. I didn’t go on their last two trips to La Manga and flitted in and out of the club. So it’s been really nice for me to play a full role this year."

Jones, who has never been one to set himself targets for the coming season, added: "I just look to try and make an impact on games. If I can achieve that, then I’m generally happy.

"The plan last year for me to open up the innings in our Friends Provident games didn’t really work at all and I think Rob (Key) and Joe (Denly) have earned the right to continue with that.

"We haven’t spoken about this as a squad yet but for this year I see myself batting at five or six in the one-day stuff where I can come and influence a game. Rebuild if we’ve had a sticky start, or push on if we’ve laid good foundations.

"Then, for the championship, maybe I’ll be down at six or seven, which with our strength in depth still allows me to build an innings," he added.

"For England there wasn’t much batting to come after me with Hoggard, Harmison and Panesar but Kent bat all the way to 11 so I can walk out feeling reasonably relaxed about playing myself in."