Kent’s returning 54-wicket bowler Matt Milnes on team-mate Ben Compton’s assessment of his performance levels and their promotion back into County Championship Division 1

Matt Milnes has already proven himself as an even better bowler during his second Kent spell than he was in his first - just ask team-mate Ben Compton.

The returning Milnes has played a massive role as Adam Hollioake’s charges secured a second-placed County Championship Division 2 finish and promotion back to the top flight of red-ball cricket.

Overall, 32-year-old Milnes took a remarkable 54 red-ball scalps at an average of 20.03, an average only bettered by Lancashire's legendary captain Jimmy Anderson, Durham’s Matthew Potts and Ryan Higgins, of Middlesex, in 2026.

Seam bowler Milnes helped Kent Spitfires to Vitality T20 Blast title glory in 2021 but has been given confirmation by opener Compton there is even more to his game these days - despite his injury struggles in recent years.

“I was speaking to Compo about this and he said something very nice,” revealed Milnes, who has been tipped to be in England Lions' squad by team-mate Sam Billings this winter. “He feels I’m way more skilled than I was the last time I was here.

“To hear this from a team-mate who has played with you four years ago, that’s really nice to hear. I think, potentially, not playing much cricket for two years wasn’t the worst thing for me at my age.

“I feel you learn a lot about yourself off the field but, also, your bowling on the field. You can look at different things in your action and stuff like that to try and take stress off your back.

“That also helps with your skills and your performance. I feel like I know my action so much better than I did four years ago. I think that only comes from age.

“With Ekansh (Singh), he’s only 20 so there are probably eight years until he is in his prime. It’s so exciting for people like that.

“I hope, being around that and what I’ve learnt through the last three or four years I can, hopefully, pass on the tiniest bit of wisdom - if he ever listens!”

Kent’s top-flight return for the first time since 2024 has largely been led by the work of Milnes, who has been ably supported by overseas players Keith Dudgeon, Hasan Mahmud and Khaled Ahmed, as well as exciting all-rounder Ekansh Singh, along the way.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Milnes, who is expected to take the majority of gongs at tonight’s end-of-season awards event, on achieving promotion.

“A lot of hard work goes into a County Championship season so to have some success at the end of it, obviously, makes me really happy. I’m really happy for all the guys, all the coaches and everyone at the club that works so hard.

“I think, with the way we have played in the last 10 games, we’ve thoroughly deserved it.”

Alongside Milnes, former skipper Sam Northeast made a Canterbury comeback this season.

Milnes admits their return as senior players in the dressing room has come with added responsibility.

He said: “Naturally, there’s a responsibility.

“You have been brought in to perform and to lead, with Sammy the batting and, for me, the bowling. Naturally, that comes with responsibility.

“Thankfully, I think this year - alongside Dudg and other guys, who have helped out, including Hasan and Khaled - everyone has chipped in.

“That’s a good thing and it’s been the same with the batting. It seemed to be a different guy every week gets the hundred that gets us into a winning position.

“I think it’s been a proper team effort.”

County Championship promotion for Kent marks a tremendous turnaround after a largely disappointing 2025 season and a winless first three games this summer, culminating in a heavy away loss to Worcestershire.

Younger brother of Tamworth FC captain Ben Milnes, Matt revealed head coach Hollioake had been eager to ease any pressure on his players, as opposed to hammering their performance, after the innings defeat in the West Midlands.

“I don’t know exactly,” he said on what had been the secret behind Kent’s turnaround.

“I remember at Worcestershire where we ‘came second’ that Smokes sort of took the pressure off us and said ‘Just enjoy yourself.’. Everyone there was expecting a bit of a slap on the wrist for how we’ve been performing at the start of the year.

“But he sort of went the other way and the proof is in the pudding. It was an amazing bit of man-management and I think everyone responded really well to it.

“To go eight from 11 games, that’s pretty special.”

Milnes, who endured a series of back issues amid his three-year stint away from Kent at Yorkshire, praised head of science and medicine Dan George, alongside the rest of the county’s staff, for how they have treated him.

He revealed: “There has been a few times in the season where I thought I was going to break.

“Thankfully, the guys in the backroom staff - Dan and everyone - they’ve been very understanding. They have listened to me, which is something as a bowler you don’t always have.

“They have listened to my body. I’m a bit more experienced with it, as well, so I think that recipe is a good one. I have played more cricket this year than I have in three or four years.

“I’m delighted with that alone - let alone the success we have had.”

Bowler Mikey Cohen has joined Sussex-bound all-rounder Joey Evison in leaving Kent at the end of this season after an injury-hit stay.