Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Captaincy call was swift
Daniel Bell-drummond has told how he found out he was to become Kent’s new club captain.
Batsman Bell-drummond, 30, has been appointed to replace wicketkeeper Sam Billings, who resigned from the role at the end of the 2023 season but will still be Spitfires’ T20 Blast skipper.
The chance to captain the side wasn’t necessarily something on Bell-drummond’s radar after a red-hot season with the bat, but was one he was more than happy to take.
He said: “It happened at the end of the season, really. “We had appraisals and Sam Billings was stepping down, and the club wanted to go in a new direction. They wanted the senior players to stand up - and I was more than willing to put my name in the hat.
“I got a call from Simon (Cook, Kent’s director of cricket) shortly after that, saying he wants me to be the club captain and the [County] Championship captain. It happened quite quickly.
“It wasn’t necessarily on the radar but I’m very proud.” Bell-drummond has skippered Kent sides on 42 occasions already and played a huge role in the early stages of their 2021 T20 Blast trophy-winning campaign.
The Academy graduate stated: “I definitely want a positive brand of cricket. “I like to empower the players to try and help us perform, and make the players feel wanted and valued in the dressing room. That’s a massively key thing for me.
“I’ve been under previous captains before who have done a lot of that. I will take a lot from them - obviously, Billings, Rob Key and [Sam] Northeast a little bit before that.
“I definitely have my own style of doing things. I have captained Kent before and have done quite well doing it.
“It will be a fresh start, there’s a lot of new faces, and a very good vibe at the minute in the dressing room. “Hopefully, we can start getting some wins.” Bell-drummond has been described as “a quiet captain” and “thoughtful” by head coach Matt Walker. Asked if he felt he would become more vocal as club captain or continue to try to lead more with his performances, he replied: “It’s an interesting one.
“I’m quiet in some aspects although a few people that know me, they might say otherwise in other aspects! I think I’m going to use my strengths and be the best version of myself. “I’ve done it before but I do need to adapt to the faces in the changing room and do what needs to be done.
“It goes without saying - as a leader now - and having been at the club for years, there’s no doubt that the team needs me to step up. I will in many ways. “For sure, one of them will be around being vocal, helping the guys.”
Batting all-rounder Jack Leaning took over as Kent’s County Championship captain from Billings after he quit as four-day skipper last June and had been open about his desire to get the captaincy on a permanent basis.
But it was Bell-drummond who got the nod while Leaning, who has penned a new longterm contract this year, has become vice-captain.
The support of Leaning and Billings will still remain key for Bell-drummond, who said: “That’s always important. “Jack is a brilliant leader and, obviously, he’s vice-captain now and led us very well last year. We have got a good rapport there.
“Sam will mainly be playing white-ball (cricket), but he will definitely be about. He’s been in and amongst it before. I’m sure he will want to help, as well. “There’s a great backroom staff and great senior players I’d add Joe Denly into that - so I’m really looking forward to it. There’s some very positive signs.”