Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Stars pledge futures
KENT’S leading run scorer Sam Northeast has agreed to remain with the county for another season.
The 22-year-old joins Darren Stevens, James Tredwell and Geraint Jones in extending their long stays with the county this week, while Brendan Nash, Mark Davies and Ben Harmison will also remain at the St Lawrence Ground.
Nash is widely expected to be given Kolpak status next year meaning Kent will have space to bring in another overseas player.
Northeast’s 969 runs at an average of 57 this summer led the club’s standings in first class cricket, while no one bettered his record of six half-centuries and three tons.
He made his first class debut for Kent as a 17-year-old five years ago this week and has already passed the 3,000 first class run threshold with the club.
Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford was unconcerned the deal was only for oneyear and said: “He wanted the deal. Some players might not like the pressure of playing in the final year of a contract but it’s worked for him – he was our highest run-scorer.
“I’m relaxed about him having a one-year contract. Hopefully he can score even more next year.”
Simon Cook and Chris Piesley are two departures, for “cricketing reasons” according to Mr Clifford, while Azhar Mahmood will not return unless Kent take up an option to sign him for the T20 campaign alone.
New deals have also been handed to youngsters Sam Billings, Fabian Cowdrey, Ben Kemp, Ivan Thomas and, despite an injury-hit two years, Ashley Shaw. Adam Ball, Daniel BellDrummond, Alex Blake, Matt Coles, Rob Key, Mike Powell, Adam Riley and Charlie Shreck are already under contract next year.
Tredwell – overlooked from the England Test squad for the tour to India this week – is believed to have agreed a new three-year deal.
Mr Clifford said: “He is Kent through and through and he’s performed brilliantly in international cricket and shown his quality for us time and time again.”
Asked about potential new signings, Mr Clifford added: “Let’s see what happens. We have 20 players, three fewer than last season, but we didn’t have BellDrummond or Ball for much of the time but we should have them much more next season.”