Despite initial disappointment, increased investment from the ECB and aiming for Tier 1 in the future allows Kent to revitalize their women’s team.

They hired their first ever head of women’s cricket in former player Lucy Arman, who came to the club with a strong short-term focus.

“Being Tier 2 is the right thing at the moment and we need to build a resource and platform for Tier 1 status,” she said during a coaching session in Canterbury.

“Resources mean we can now employ coaches and invest more, for the first time, in strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and analytics.

“It really creates a more professional environment for the women’s team than they’ve ever had before.”

They also continue to work closely with Surrey’s talent pathway and former Kent player Arman says they have accepted the development role they are likely to play at Tier 2.

“We will help any player achieve their professional dream and if that means they have to go to another country to get their professional status, we will support and help them along the way, and do everything we can so that when we turn professional, we can have them back in a Kent shirt,” she said.