Kent players 'deserve all credit' for promotion

Head coach Adam Hollioake has praised his Kent players for their promotion from Division Two of the County Championship. Kent secured a three-day win against Gloucestershire on Saturday, with Northamptonshire's earlier defeat by Middlesex confirming their second-place finish in the second tier. Hollioake, who took charge of Kent following their relegation in 2024, led the team to their first-ever top-flight finish after finishing bottom of Division Two in the previous season, winning only two of their 14 matches.

Kent began the 2026 campaign with two draws and an innings defeat by Worcestershire, but went on to win eight of their subsequent 11 Championship matches to achieve promotion. Hollioake expressed his relief and quietly confidence in the team's performance, acknowledging the players' hard work and resilience. He emphasized that the players deserve all the credit for their turnaround, highlighting their ability to execute plans and bounce back from a tough start to the season.

The coach also jokingly noted that while promoting the club was a success, finishing 12th of the 18 first-class counties in 2026 would be a personal achievement for him. Hollioake, who played for England in four Tests and 35 one-day internationals, acknowledged the challenging journey ahead as Kent moves up to Division One, expressing his commitment to continued improvement.