Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Cox thrilled by early hundred
Jordan Cox was delighted to get his first century of the season quickly under his belt.
The 21-year-old scored his second first-class ton as Kent started their County Championship Division 1 campaign with a high-scoring draw against Essex.
Cox didn’t reach three figures last year, despite going past 80 on three occasions, but he made no mistake in Kent’s first innings at Chelmsford, scoring 129 batting at four.
“It’s always nice to start off with a hundred,” said Cox, whose only other first-class century came in a record-breaking 423-run stand with Jack Leaning in August 2020.
“Last year, I did get the opportunity, opening the batting, but I didn’t capitalise, really.
“I got four fifties so I was really determined to get a hundred early on this year so that I was not thinking ‘Oh God, I have not got a hundred yet’. I worked really hard in the winter for it.”
Kent reached 581 in reply to Essex’s 514 all out before the captains shook hands on a draw on Sunday, with Essex 68-1 and the two teams shared 12 points apiece.
“It’s always nice to get points on the board first game of the season against a very good side,” added Cox, who wasn’t the only Kent player among the runs.
Opener Ben Compton also reached 129 while promising batter Tawanda Muyeye (58), all-rounder Darren Stevens (51), bowler Matt Milnes (67) and Australian Jackson Bird (53 not out) struck half-centuries.
On the displays of Compton and Muyeye, Cox enthused: “We have got someone like Ben, who didn’t have the best of times at Notts.
“But with the coaching staff and players all backing him, he showed everyone what he can do. We were all really pleased for him.
“Tawanda’s is an incredible story, really. He is such a talented young boy.
“He has a very bright future ahead of him. I hope, when he gets to the 60 and 70-mark, he makes the big scores. If he does that, he will be an incredible player, without a doubt.”
Kent played Lancashire at a similar stage in the County Championship last season at the Spitfire Ground, with the Red Rose side winning by an innings and five runs.
The teams meet again at Canterbury from today (Thursday) and Cox hopes Kent can put on a better show this time around ahead.
“They beat us last year pretty comfortably, so we will try and turn them over this year,” said Cox.
“We will have to play really well to do it but I cannot see why we cannot do that.
“I don’t imagine the wicket will be as good as the one at Chelmsford. But hopefully, we can get a win - or at least another draw.”