Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Everything to play for
Sam Northeast hopes his first pre-season as Kent captain turns into a ‘total nightmare.’
The 26-year-old took over the reins from Rob Key last season and, after a strong showing in all three formats late in 2015, hopes are high that 2016 will be bright for Kent’s developing squad.
Kent played an inter-squad T20 at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, on Monday, during which the Lime Tree Cafe windows had to be protected from a barrage of sixes from Alex Blake, Darren Stevens and Matt Coles, who also hit one into the upper-deck of the deserted pavilion.
Northeast (pictured below) claimed he was excited about the preparations and said: “Everyone has come back in good shape. Guys have made progress.
“The pitches are a bit slow which has not really given us much of an indication of where batters and bowlers are at but everyone seems to be in good nick and we are ready to test ourselves.
“We have Essex, Hampshire and Durham in quick succession and we want to give a good account of ourselves. We are looking forward to the first real game against Loughborough, we want to be firing by then.
“There will be substitutions and we’re not going to bowl people into the ground in March but it’s a good opportunity for guys to score hundreds, take five-fers and put their hands up for a place in the team.”
He added: “There are lots of places open. I don’t have 11 names in my head for the first game and I don’t think (head coach) Jimmy Adams does either. There is a lot to play for over the next couple of weeks.
“The more of a nightmare it is for me, with people doing well, the better it is for Kent.”
Northeast admitted this preseason felt different to those under Key and James Tredwell, adding: “It’s a player-driven pre-season and everyone has been contributing.we want to take a progressive approach in four-day cricket.
“It’s about the culture too, we want discipline and professionalism. It’s the small things, the one-per-centers which add up to make a difference.
“There is a good vibe and we want to be as good as we can be and the players want to drive their standards up. There is a competitive edge, even in the nets and everyone is seeking to get better.” Northeast said the single promotion place in Division 2 would not affect Kent’s p r e p a r a t i ons , although he added: “We want promotion, that has not changed.
“We’ll just maybe have to look at where we are midway through the season.
“If we are in need of results, then we might have to make selections or ask for pitches to be prepared to help us do that.”