SILVERWARE FOR HIS YOUNG SIDE

After being installed as permanent Kent captain, Sam Northeast set his sights on silverware, saying the sky is the limit for him and his young side.

There was no surprise when the 25-year-old was confirmed as full-time skipper this week having taken over from Rob Key midway through the season and Northeast himself admitted: “Nothing has changed at all. From the moment I took over, I considered myself captain. The transition happened then rather than now.”

Northeast undeniably rose to the challenge of captaincy, scoring more with a shout this winter, too.

“Things like playing for the Lions and ultimately England are an aspiration of mine. I was disappointed (to be overlooked) but it’s people’s opinion – I have to keep trying hard to change that and hopefully I can turn it around in future.”

His promotion to captain came just 10 months after Northeast spent a spell looking for form in the 2nd XI – a memory he admits is already distant.

He said: “The most pleasing thing this year was my own form after I took over the captaincy. I found myself in good form with the bat and in a good place in terms of my game.

“Last year I had a few demons and a few things in my head but that seems a long time ago, such a lot has happened since then.”

He added: “I can get better, I have no doubt. The sky is the limit and having a season like this one, can only make you stronger.

“Hopefully, I can score even more runs and help Kent win a lot of games and some trophies over the coming years. If we can keep this group of players together and move forward, then I think there’s a bright future here.”

The abundance of young talent was part of the reason why Northeast has ended his habit of single-year contract extensions by agreeing a ‘long-term’ deal this summer.

He said: “The captaincy is only a one-year appointment but it’s important as captain to send a message out. I want to take the club forward over the next few years.”

‘If we can keep this group of players together and move forward, there’s a bright future here ’