Aiming for a career at the top

Tom Richards wants to pursue a career in county cricket.

The 21-year old Tenterden seam bowler finished a good week by taking 4-11 to help bowl his club to their first Shepherd Neame Kent League, Premier Division win of the season at champions Hartley on Saturday.

Twenty four hours before, he had been at Beckenham, net bowling against the Sri Lankan squad preparing for the forthcoming Champions Trophy series, having made his Kent 2nd Xl debut against Somerset at Taunton four days earlier.

Rain limited the game to a one-innings affair with Richards finishing with 1-15 from his five overs.

The University of Kent student, who lives in Ashford, and is presently completing the final stages of his sports management degree, said: “I got a text on Sunday night from coach Min Patel asking if I would be available to play.

“Everyone wants to play cricket at the best level they can and take any chance to be with good players.

“It was a great experience and I learned from it. It is something I would like to do and my captain at Tenterden, Ben Price, is helping me try to get more opportunities in the future.

“Bowling against the Sri Lankans also gave me a chance to chat to (bowling consultant) Allan Donald.”

Richards says the week was perfect preparation to face Hartley, following defeats in his club’s opening two games.

He said: “I was feeling the pressure a little bit as one of the senior bowlers with Adam Ball and Sam Weller not in the side and we stuck to our plans well.

“We didn’t feel we were fully at it in the opening day defeat against Beckenham, while the game against Bexley was a tight game.”

Meanwhile, Tenterden have confirmed that Weller missed the win at Hartley due to a one-match ban.

‘Everyone wants to play cricket at the best level they can’

It follows the former Kent seamer being reported by the umpires in the match against Bexley the previous week.

A club spokesman said: “We are not aware of the alleged offence, as the league have refused to give details of the report.

“The club and the associated players are not aware of any issues that were negative but supports the league’s Voluntary Code of Conduct, making the player unavailable for the game.”