NOW that’s the kind of week I enjoy; high quality cricket from the Spitfires, a 10-wicket championship win, then a 70-run totesport League victory to follow, that’s much more like it.

Martin van Jaarseveld's efforts have to be saluted as his 262 not out in the championship match certainly showed his class, mental strength and commitment to the Kent cause.

No matter how tired he must have felt he knew the importance of grinding out a big first innings score and his efforts, together with Darren Stevens, Min Patel and Martin Saggers, really took the game away from Glamorgan.

Martin followed that with a dominant 114 in the totesport match in Bath, an innings I’m sure he enjoyed playing in front of South African captain Graeme Smith (now captaining Somerset).

That innings alone showed what sort of quality South Africa has lost out on, but Simon Willis, Paul Farbrace and the cricket committee really did their homework and deserve a pat on the bat for identifying Martin’s qualities as a cricketer and a team man.

Darren finished our innings with 28 off 10 balls and what a joy he was to watch in full cry. I have worked with many talented strikers of the ball and his natural ability rates up there with the best of them.

He has so much time to play his shots and despatches the ball effortlessly. Added to his batting capabilities we have seen how effective his seamers can be in picking up vital wickets or breaking partnerships.

Previously, at Leicestershire, he had little chance to show what he could do with the ball, but really has taken to the task of improving his bowling this season and the skipper, coaches and his team-mates have confidence in his abilities.

Working as a team and digging deep for your team-mates are important ingredients of a successful team and 'Jaara’s' marathon effort, Min’s 86 and 'Saggs’s' 45 all showed a determination and desperation to get the team into a dominant position.

This fight has been present on a number of occasions this season, no more so than the last innings of the Hampshire match and that sort of spirit makes me proud to be part of the Kent set up.

I did mention in the column two weeks ago that I fancied England to win the Twenty20 clash with Australia at The Rose Bowl, but I never thought it would be in such convincing style.

It will serve as a big wake up call for the Aussies and will also make England believe they can seriously compete in the ODI’s and Test series.

We all know what a big part confidence plays in cricket and there seems to be no shortage of it in the England camp at the moment.

Kevin Pietersen again showed how he thrives on the big stage with a short and very sweet innings that showed he can score all around the ground.

He is not just a bottom-handed leg-side player, as was stated by those who chose to be negative about his miraculous performances in South Africa.

For some time England have been developing the depth of quality batsmen in their one-day squad, they have a side full of wonderful ball strikers yet there are still guys like Ian Backwell and Darren Stevens waiting in the wings.

The signs are very exciting and positive, England must realise however that the war has just begun. Winning the first skirmish is good but there are many days of tough battle ahead.

The Aussies will come back hard and aggressively, which will make for some appetising viewing for us cricket fans.