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I have not set world alight...yet

Justin Kemp has pledged to put a disappointing start to the season behind him and fire up the the Kent Spitfires fans with some explosive hitting in the remainder of this year's Twenty20 Cup.

Justin Kemp has pledged to put a disappointing start to the season behind him and fire up the Kent fans with some explosive hitting in the remainder of this year's Twenty20 Cup.

Since arriving at the St Lawrence Ground last month, the South African has yet to produce the kind of form he showed against England over the winter.

"I've not really set the world alight yet," he admitted. "I feel I'm contributing, but it's only a matter of time before I start performing to the best of my ability for Kent."

He has struggled with the bat, failing to register a score above 30 - in stark contrast to four months ago when he was busy despatching Steve Harmison salvos to all parts of the ground, making 57 from just 36 balls including four sixes on one game.

Now, 'Kempie' has even suffered the embarrassment of being dropped as an overseas player in preference for James Tredwell for the County Championship game with Glamorgan.

But the omission appears to have done him good. The 27-year-old has trained harder, worked on his game without any histrionics and looked progressively better in the games against Somerset and Warwickshire.

"It's taken me a while to adjust and get used to four-day cricket, as I have not played that style for four months, and I've struggled a bit. But I'm feeling a lot better about my form and hopefully I can hit my stride in the Twenty20 Cup."

The big-hitter added: "It depends upon the scenario and what the team needs in Twenty20 games, but I'm sure there will be opportunities when you have to hit the ball out of the ground a few times and hopefully I can do it."

Kemp has joined the club during a period when most of his teammates are firmly rooted in the middle of purple patches, so it's hardly surprising he's feeling the heat in the middle. But Kent's vice-captain Matt Walker has backed the Proteas powerhouse to come good in the 20-over format.

"If the game is suited to somebody, then Twenty20 is suited to Justin Kemp," Walker said.

"He's as good a hitter as anyone in the world and he hits the ball a long, long.

"He has all the attributes to be very, very successful and if he can put a run of performances together, on top of us all pulling our weight, then we could go very far in the competition.

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