Kent Cricket have announced that Paul Downton will be President of Kent Cricket for 2027.

The former Kent & England wicketkeeper made 83 appearances for his home county between 1977 & 1979, before moving on to Middlesex to finish his playing career in 1991. In his career, he also made 58 appearances for England across Test & ODI cricket.

Downton won two County Championship titles and one Benson & Hedges Cup as a Kent player, and on his return to the Club as Director of Cricket from 2018-2023, oversaw promotion to Division One of the County Championship, a Vitality Blast title and One Day Cup win.

He will succeed Richard Ellison, who is the Club’s President for 2026, on 1 January 2027.

On being named as Kent Cricket’s President for 2027, Downton said: “I am honoured and extremely proud to be the President of Kent Cricket for 2027.

“I have been a passionate fan of Kent since my childhood and still remember the excitement of making my first-class debut for the Club against Surrey at the Mote in July 1977.

“I was then delighted to be appointed the Club’s first Director of Cricket in 2018 where I had the opportunity to work with some great people both on and off the field. I’m now looking forward to returning to the Club in a new capacity next year.

“In the meantime, I would like to wish my former England teammate Richard Ellison the very best in his Presidency in 2026.”

Kent Cricket’s 2026 President, Richard Ellison, said: “I have known Paul for a reasonable amount of time, having played against each other when he was at Sevenoaks School and I was at Tonbridge. We were then teammates at Exeter University and then, of course, England.

“Paul is a top man and richly deserves the accolade of being Kent’s President in 2027.”

Kent Cricket’s Chair, Krish Shanmuganathan, said: “Paul left a lasting legacy of raising standards at Kent that has been a huge influence on the entire Club in recent seasons.

“We’re delighted that he will return to the Club for a third time in his role of President in 2027 – I look forward to working closely with him in his tenure.”

Kent Cricket’s President for 2025, Sir Tim Laurence, said: “I’m thrilled that my former teammate from the Sevenoaks School XI will be taking on the role of President for 2027 and I hope he enjoys it as much as I have done.”