Big winter ahead, says Northeast

Kent cricket

Captain Sam Northeast admits Kent have a big winter ahead of them. Despite a flying start, Kent ultimately fell short of expectations in all three formats in 2017 and Northeast admitted they will review their recruitment tactics after a season which saw four different overseas players in Wayne Parnell, Yasir Shah, Adam Milne and Jimmy Neesham. Northeast said: “We started off well and the squad was in a good place. The one-day competition came and we didn’t play well in that and that changed the momentum. “It’s not just players, we had Dizzy (Jason Gillespie) come in for a short period and you sort of change that dynamic and that might have affected the changing room. “It’s never easy for Walks (Matt Walker) in his first year when he hasn’t really had a constant assistant coach for him and the players to work with. “Players coming in and out is something we’re going to have to reflect on a bit. “Something like overseas players – do we want someone for longer periods who can be a bit more sustainable or loan players, is that the right thing for us to do? “Yes, James Harris and Parnell were good (at the start of the season) but then you lose that and suddenly your dynamic changes. You have to bring in players who haven’t played all year, trying to find their feet. “It’s something we’re going to have to look at.” Northeast insisted he was happy with the players at his disposal but says he wants more out of them to avoid a repeat of the disappointment in all formats. He said: “The most important thing is that we want to get more out of our players. There are going to be some big winters for these guys, something’s going to need to improve. “I want a few of these youngsters to put their hand up and cement their places. “It’s going to be a big winter for them, a lot of hard work but there’s a lot of talent. Talent only takes you so far, though. “Last year a lot of teams caught up with us, in terms of one-day cricket especially. We’re going to have to raise our skills.”