Kentish Express Ashford & District
Dickson looking to stay on top
Sean Dickson finished top of the Kent LV= County Championship batting averages this season, writes Richard Harvey.
And the young South Africanborn batsman’s hunger for runs and determination could see that become a regular occurrence in years to come.
Dickson finished with an impressive average of 56.50 from his three appearances after making his debut in the draw at Derbyshire in August.
He made 21 and 1 not out in that game before scoring his maiden 50 for Sam Northeast’s side, 59, in the win at Glamorgan.
Dickson, 24, ended his season unbeaten, scoring 31 not out in the rain-hit final game of the season against Gloucestershire at Canterbury.
While he has made an immediate impression, the easy-going Dickson, who has a UK passport as his mum is from Beckenham, was not about to rest on his laurels.
He’s gone back to South Africa to, as he says, “work” on his game, but not before talking about the start of his Kent career.
He said: “I will take it (the average) and run. Seriously, though, it was great to get the opportunity to play in the first team, but it’s only early days.
“I’ve had a taster, but now I’ve got to work hard over winter to ensure I put my name out there early next season.”
Dickson signed for Kent in July after scoring heavily in all three formats of the game for the 2nd XI and his end-of-year statistics include hundreds in all formats.
He scored three hundreds while amassing 797 Champion-ship runs at an average of 61.31.
In T20, Dickson smashed 270 runs at an average of 45 and strike rate of 262 per 100 balls, while in one-day cricket he averaged 54, scoring 216 runs.
But what is the secret to his prolific run-scoring?
Dickson, who first came to Kent’s attention at a pre-season trial in March and has played first-class cricket for Northerns in South Africa, said: “It’s a simple one – I value my wicket.
“The longer you are out there, the better you feel and you get the chance to express yourself later in the innings.
“Former South African batsman Gary Kirsten was my idol growing up and he understood his strengths and weaknesses and played to his strengths.”