Kent head coach Jimmy Adams has backed batsman Sam Northeast to come good with the bat after a tough start to the season.
Having topped the side’s batting averages with 55.00 in the 2012 season, 24-year-old Northeast had a more difficult 2013, averaging only 26, and has registered first and second innings scores of 18 and 0 in both of Kent’s County Championship games so far this season.
With a number of youngsters pushing hard for a place in the team with some promising performances for the 2nd XI, some wondered whether Northeast’s position at the top of the order may come under threat, but Jimmy Adams is keen to keep faith with his vice-captain.
“Sam was hitting the ball very well”, Adams said following Kent’s draw with Leicestershire.
“He had a good pre-season – he got a hundred at Essex, he got 30 – a start – here against Loughborough MCCU. We back him to come good.
“Dropping him to the 2nd XI is definitely not on the cards.”
“At the end of the day, every case is unique. I don’t want to sound blasé, but we’re only two games into the season, and this is somebody who, in my opinion, and in the opinion of the decision makers in the team, is one of our in-form players coming out of pre-season.”
Adams also said that his side were keen to get their third Championship game of the season – at home to Surrey – underway on Sunday.
“I think everybody’s looking forward to it”, he said.
“I think, obviously, these are teams that we can measure ourselves against. They’ve just come out from Division One, so it will give us an idea of where we are and I do think it will also be a motivating factor as well to mix it against a team that have just come down; a team that have good players, and have a few “names” in the team.
“I think if that doesn’t motivate you, then nothing will. Over the years that I’ve been here, there’s always been this desire to really do well against the teams that have come down, and to make a name for yourself.
“I think it will be something that will gee the players up, and the lads are definitely looking forward to it.”
Captain Rob Key echoed his coach’s sentiments, and also said he was looking forward to catching up with former Kent director of cricket Graham Ford, now head coach at The Oval.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Fordy [Graham Ford] again”, he said. “I haven’t seen him for a while – I worked for five years with him through a really good period for Kent Cricket.
“Surrey are a team that have some decent bowlers, some decent batters, and it’ll be a good contest.”