Jimmy Adams says any talk of title showdowns with Essex needs to stop as the only thing that matters to Kent is this week’s game against Northants.

After three straight big wins in Specsavers County Championship, Division 2, Kent went into their penultimate game 24 points behind Essex, who occupy the sole promotion place.

With Essex not in action until Monday’s visit of Glamorgan to Chelmsford, Kent could heap pressure on the leaders, who visit Canterbury the following Tuesday (September 20) for the season finale.

Despite Kent being put in by the visitors at Beckenham and surrendering a first-innings lead of more than 100 after being bowled out for 230 on the opening day, head coach Adams remained positive.

He said: “It would have been nice to be able to use the same blueprint as the previous three games – bowl them out, bat long, then bowl them out again.

“In truth, we slipped up with the bat, the conditions were not ideal but it was not a 230 all-out pitch. We had a few players who got starts but couldn’t go on.”

He added: “I don’t think anyone has taken their eye off the ball but there has been a lot of talk about the Essex game.

“The Essex match will mean nothing if we can’t earn enough points from this game to ensure we can catch them in that last game.

“We need to do whatever we can to win this game and claim as many bonus points as we can. Then we have to sit back and hope for Essex to slip-up next week.”

Adams admitted it was not ideal to have been forced into changing a winning side with Sam Billings being called-up to the England squad for the T20 with Pakistan at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Billings was replaced in the line-up by Callum Jackson, although he has been given ECB dispensation to return to the side for the third and fourth days of the match (Thursday and Friday).

Adams said: “It’s not the best for us but getting young cricketers to the place where they can play international cricket is a big part of why we are in the game.

“It’s massive for the club and it’s great for him to get the opportunity.

"If he is selected but doesn’t play, then that’s just part and parcel of sport.”