Kent head coach Matt Walker has played down the chances of Hardus Viljoen being utilised in county championship format this season.

The South African fast bowler has signed up for Kent’s T20 Vitality Blast campaign having played four championship matches for the club in 2016.

Viljoen, who picked up 62 first-class wickets in his two years at Derby, boasts a bowling average of 25.02 and 110 wickets in 94 innings across T20 competitions around the world.

Walker, pictured, admitted: “His focus is T20, I don’t know the last time he played red-ball cricket, probably last year for Derby.

“His focus is on white-ball cricket, he’s done very well for himself, picked up some great franchise gigs and become a real specialist in that format.

“We want him focused on 14 games of T20 and hopefully a few more if he goes on to win it, his sole purpose is that. We’ll wait and see what’s on the table.”

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Viljoen picked up 18 wickets in nine matches, including a best of 3-6 from two overs in the semi-finals, to win the Player of the Series in the 2018 T10 League in the UAE last November.

He also took seven wickets in six matches for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL earlier this year.

Viljoen will join up with Kent for the T20 alongside New Zealand paceman Adam Milne, who is back in Canterbury for the third consecutive season, and Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

Walker added: “I’m excited about all of them. Mohammad Nabi is a wonderful cricketer, I think he’s an extremely exciting multi-dimensional cricketer who has caught the eye at the World Cup.

“He’s been a shining light in that Afghanistan team, the way he bowled and a couple of innings he played. He’s a fantastic cricketer and he’s really going to lift this dressing room.

“I’d imagine members will be very excited to see him turn out for Kent, as I am and as the team are. To have that sort of dynamic cricketer in the dressing room is a real lift and obviously Adam Milne coming back, we know what he can do.

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“Hardus Viljoen as well is a very exciting cricketer, he bowls express pace and can hit the ball out of the park too. It’s coming round fast, it’s certainly a competition we’re all looking forward to playing in.”

With Wiaan Mulder having been recalled by Cricket South Africa due to injury, Walker admits Kent did explore the option of bringing in a player for the Division 1 games against Surrey and Hampshire.

He added: “Bearing in mind there’s not really anybody available, it comes down to budget, to ship somebody from overseas costs a significant amount.

“We’ve spent a lot of money on recruitment this year. We did enquire over a player but you just can’t get that visa done in time. Whether we do something for the back end of the season remains to be seen.”

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