Who is the captain?

Rob Key, who is overlooked by England but who is now appearing to be Kent's best captain since Christopher Cowdrey 20 or so years ago

Who is the overseas player?

Yasir Arafat, although given the number of overseas players Kent have employed over the past few years, it could have been anybody

Who has arrived?

Azhar Mahmood, now a British citizen, and Charlie Hemphrey, an off spinner from the county's academy who has impressed Graham Ford, the coach, in pre-season practice

Who has left?

Two handy all-rounders in Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp, assuming that Kent do not win a planned appeal against the ECB over Kemp

What has the IPL/ICL done to them?

Kemp, on account of his ICL commitments, had his registration declined. It should be remembered that three decades ago, Kent were in far greater turmoil because four players joined World Series Cricket

What is their nickname?

Spitfires

How did they fare last season?

LV County Championship: 7th, first division; NatWest Pro40: 5th, second division; Friends Provident Trophy: 4th, South conference; Twenty20 Cup: winners

What are their prospects?

A fair chance of becoming county champions for the first time for 30 years. Should fare well in the one-day game, too.

What are their strengths?

Solid all-round talent. Joe Denly and Ryan McLaren are highly promising and Geraint Jones, England's Ashes-winning wicketkeeper, has a point or two to make. Key made more than 2,000 runs for the county in all cricket last season

What are their weaknesses?

Amjad Khan will have to be nursed carefully after missing last season having undergone reconstructive knee surgery. No Kemp, while Azhar will need to be fully motivated

One to watch

Hemphrey, an off spinner who will hope to learn from James Tredwell, who is no longer underrated having been with England for the one-day leg of their tour to New Zealand