Northeast dismay as he misses out on double ton

After falling nine runs short of his maiden career doublecentury Sam Northeast admitted he was surprised by how disappointed he was. The Kent skipper did manage a career-best 191 in the first innings of the raininterrupted draw against Derbyshire at Canterbury this week but failed to join team-mates Daniel BellDrummond, Joe Denly and Sean Dickson in passing 200 in a First Class game this season. Northeast admitted: “I was nine runs short but it seems I am improving my career-best a couple of runs at a time. Hopefully, I’ll get there one day. “I know it’s ridiculous but there was a lot of disappointment for not getting 200. I didn’t think I’d be like that but the disappointment is there that I didn’t get a double. “Not getting there wasn’t anything to do with anyone else. I could have played it a bit differently at the end, rather than hitting it down long-on’s throat. “I’m happy to be in good form. We had to put ourselves in a reasonably good position from where we were.” Northeast hopes to continue his form – which has seen him score nearly 600 Championship runs in 11 innings this summer at an average of 70-plus – when Kent visit Essex on Sunday. Sam Billings misses out due to his England T20 call-up to face Sri Lanka and with Adam Rouse sidelined by a broken finger Northeast and Jimmy Adams must choose whether to ask Tom Latham to keep, meaning Kagiso Rabada would have to sit out as Kent can only field one of their overseas players, or omit Latham and field Callum Jackson, who played for the 2nds on Monday. Matt Coles missed the past two games due to an internal disciplinary matter while Calum Haggett, Ivan Thomas and Daniel Bell-Drummond have been nursing knocks. Northeast added: “We have daily selection talks these days but we are keeping our cards close to our chest.” England captain Alastair Cook will lead Essex on Sunday in the latest meeting in the Battle of the Bridge series.