Hollioake credits Kent players for promotion turnaround and targets Division One improvement

Kent head coach Adam Hollioake has credited his players with rescuing a difficult start to the season and securing County Championship promotion. Speaking to the BBC, he said their response had driven the club's turnaround.

Hollioake acknowledged that he had questioned his own coaching after three matches this year, with players also doubting themselves. He said the decisive difference was their ability to carry out plans on the field and recover from that uncertain opening.

Promotion was confirmed before Kent began their final run chase against Gloucestershire, after Northamptonshire lost to Middlesex at Lord's. According to the ECB Reporters' Network match report, Kent then completed an eight-wicket victory at Canterbury, reaching 120-2 in pursuit of 118. Sam Northeast finished unbeaten on 49 and Zak Crawley contributed 44. Milnes had earlier taken 5-33 as Gloucestershire were dismissed for 241 in their second innings.

The BBC reported that four Kent batters reached 700 Championship runs during the season, led by Northeast with 890. Milnes finished with 54 wickets and Dudgeon took 42, making the two seamers the county's leading wicket-takers in the competition.

Milnes' contribution came in his first season back at Kent following his return from Yorkshire on a three-year contract. Kent's announcement of that agreement recalled his previous spell from 2019 to 2022, during which he took 193 wickets across 94 appearances. He was part of the side that won the 2021 Vitality Blast and was named the club's bowler of the year that season.

Dudgeon had also returned with unfinished business. Kent signed him for the full 2026 season after a short overseas stint in 2025 ended through a knee injury. The club's announcement noted that he had taken a first-class career-best 7-36 on debut against Northamptonshire before being sidelined.

Hollioake nevertheless cautioned that promotion was not the endpoint. While welcoming the achievement, he told the BBC that Kent needed to continue improving as they moved into Division One, where the next stage of their work would begin.