KENT’S modern-day king of the hat-tricks Dean Headley is returning to cricket after a four-year lay off to skipper Shepherd Neame Kent League Division 3 outfit Upchurch.

Headley was persuaded to join the club near Sittingbourne by friend and third-team skipper Jerry Overbury.

Headley, who retired from the first-class game after bagging three-hat-tricks for the county in 139-first class matches, said he was looking forward to putting on his bowling boots again.

The winner of 15 England Test caps said: "I have a few mates at the club and I’ve been there a lot socially so when Jerry approached me and asked me to skipper the first team I didn’t have to think before saying yes.

"My aim is to make Upchurch a better club by improving them as a team, not by me taking over and starring with bat and ball.

"It’s also more than four years since I played properly, my back doesn’t give me too many problems nowadays and I feel I’m ready to give it another go.

"I know it’s an old cliché but I’d also like to put something back into a game that gave me so much enjoyment."

Though it is barely six years since Headley rolled over Australia, taking six for 60 to bowl England to a famous Test victory in Melbourne, he says Kent League batsmen do not have to quake in their boots.

It will not be a case of trying to knock people’s helmets off, more a case of Headley trying to outsmart them.

"I haven’t batted since I retired, and though I hope that will come back to me, I guess I’ll be playing principally as a bowler," added the 35-year-old.

"I will be limited to 15 overs like every other bowler so it will be a case of using my head and bowling to suit the conditions.

"Club pitches do tend to seam a little more than county wickets, so most times I’ll be happy to pitch it up and nibble it around. But if the conditions suit, then sure I will be bowling a little bit quicker to try and find out what I’m still capable of.

"I’m looking forward to being skipper more than anything and bringing along a few youngsters at the club. If I have a promising teenage batsman in the side and if we’ve got off to a good start then I’ll promote him in the order and give him chance to play a good innings.

"But if we’re on the back foot, then chances are I’ll protect him, go in first and let this old boy take a pounding instead."