KENT’S much heralded championship return to Beckenham became something of a damp squib when rain washed-out the opening day of their top-of-the-table clash with Warwickshire.

Morning downpours followed overnight showers and near gale-force winds that ensured both sides remained within the confines of the pavilion playing Scrabble and hands of cards.

Returning to the Worsley Bridge Road Ground for the first time in 50-years for a first-class game, second-placed Kent will be keen to get underway and dent the unbeaten record of the Frizzell Division 1 leaders.

The Kent squad were buoyed by the pre-match fitness news surrounding experienced left-hand batsman and local favourite Matthew Walker.

The Gravesend-born player missed Monday’s game against the West Indies after injuring a finger in the pre-match warm-ups, but x-rays have since revealed bruising and no fracture.

The visitors, fresh from a high-scoring draw with Lancashire, seem likely to go into the game without their two overseas pace bowlers and their skipper Nick Knight.

Zimbabwean Heath Streak is definitely ruled out with a stomach strain, while South African Dewald Pretorius is deemed a doubtful starter with a knee injury.

Knight looks set to be replaced at the helm by Dougie Brown after fracturing his hand against Lancashire.

Ironically, Kent’s last championship appearance at the former Lloyds TSB Ground back ended in a draw against Gloucestershire when rain washed out the last day of three back in 1954.