Kentish Express Ashford & District
Star Stevens not resting on laurels
Darren Stevens says he is enjoying the praise for his superb form, claiming it is his reward for hard work in the off-season. Despite turning 41 on April 30, the all-rounder has a club-best 296 Championship runs at an average of more than 70 from the first three games and has also weighed in with 22 wickets at an average of 11.5. After a trademark quickfire 90 and match figures of 9-110 to help see off Derbyshire inside three days at Canterbury on Sunday – a result which maintained Kent’s perfect start – Stevens admitted he has been receiving ‘a lot of praise’ from team-mates. He added: “They know how much I put in over the winter and in pre-season. “I worked really hard – I wanted to do well. Yes I am 40 and coming to the end of my career but I want to be there as a player, not there on what I have done in the past.” He added: “I want to be there on what I’m doing, I want to be getting runs, taking wickets, catching balls and winning games and as long as I’m doing that I’ll accept the praise they’re giving me. “I don’t want to be in that side if I don’t feel like I’m doing my job but I feel like I’m doing it at the minute.” With the Royal London One-Day Cup campaign beginning with the visit of Hampshire to Canterbury on Thursday (11am), Stevens said he would take one thing into white ball competition from the winning Championship start:‘That’s the winning mentality and the momentum.’ He added: “We worked so hard in pre-season to get where we are today. It’s only going to help us with the momentum for everything.”