Kent’s new overseas signing Vernon Philander is expected to go straight into the Spitfires side for the opening Friends Life t20 game of the summer against Middlesex at Canterbury on Friday night.

Philander’s arrival has been welcomed by skipper James Tredwell – set to return to the side after England one-day duty.

He said: “As a cricket group we have been looking for some time. It hasn’t been easy with the heavy international calendar but we have been given the green light.

“It wasn’t necessarily about bringing in the most high-profile player we could, it needed to be the best fit for the team and someone to fulfil the greatest need.”

Head coach Jimmy Adams says he hopes the Spitfires can use their world record-breaking run-chase to kick-start their season.

Facing the daunting prospect of chasing 337 to win last Wednesday night’s Yorkshire Bank 40 Group A clash against Sussex Sharks, centuries from Darren Stevens and Sam Northeast saw the hosts home with three wickets and nine balls to spare at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

Kent coach Adams said: “It was special. Hopefully, we can keep building on this.”

The result produced a euphoric mood in the camp, which could not be dulled by Saturday’s 42-run defeat in the tour match against New Zealand and leaves an air of optimism ahead of the opening weekend of the Friends Life t20 campaign, with Middlesex Panthers visiting Canterbury on Friday (7pm) and Surrey – complete with former Kent favourite Azhar Mahmood in the side – arriving at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, on Sunday (3pm).