Kent opener Daniel Bell-Drummond believes he is in the best form of his professional career after an impressive start to the season.

The opening batsman, 22, has enjoyed a stunning start to the campaign, scoring an unbeaten double century in Kent’s First Class fixture against Loughborough MCCU, before hitting a first innings century away at Leicestershire last week, and registering scores of 84 and 86 not out in this week’s ten-wicket win against Glamorgan at Canterbury.

Speaking at the conclusion of this week’s game, Bell-Drummond spoke of his happiness at his early season form.

“I’m just trying to keep this purple patch going”, he said.

“It’s the best form I’ve been in in pro cricket ever, so I’m just trying to keep that going. I’m pretty grateful for it, and with the new ball, I know bad times may be around the corner, so I’m just staying focus and keeping to my plans.”

Having spent some of the winter away in Abu Dhabi playing white ball cricket with the England Lions, the Lewisham-born batsman feels his game is on the up.

“It’s never easy – never, ever easy”, he said.

“I think I’ve just got more plans now. I’m a bit tighter in certain areas, and I try and play to my strengths, whereas before I might have just tried different things. I have a bit more of a clear mindset.

“Obviously you’ve got to go out and get the runs. I’ve had – not my fair share of luck – but on another day, balls could’ve gone to hand. That’s cricket for you, and that’s why I’m happy with the form I’m in, and I’m trying to cash in.”

Bell-Drummond appears to have struck up an immediate bond with fellow opener Tom Latham. With New Zealand international Latham making his debut for the club, in the victory over Glamorgan, the pair became the first Kent opening partnership to register century stands together in both innings of a County Championship match since 1954, and only the third in the club’s history.

“It’s obviously nice that we’re achieving well and we’ve started well as an opening partnership”, Bell-Drummond said.

“We don’t want to look at that too much to be honest, but we’ve got a job to do – to see the new ball off and score runs. Hopefully we can continue that. The new ball can be tough, so I’m just trying to cash in when I can, and I’m just pretty thankful for the start I’ve got.”

“We’ve been blessed with great openers. I opened with Rob Key before him, so he wasn’t a bad player himself! Tom’s a big help at the other end, and he’s only a young man himself – he’s 24 – and he wants to learn and do well in these conditions.

“He’s started brilliantly. I think we help each other very well. He’s very focussed in the middle, and that’s the type of person I am as well.”

The opener also paid tribute to the rest of his teammates, and praised the efforts of a bowling attack hindered by Matt Coles sustaining an injury in the first innings, leaving him unable to bowl as many overs as would otherwise have been expected.

Darren Stevens and Mitch Claydon took up the mantle in his absence, alongside third seamer Hugh Bernard; the 19-year-old making his First Class debut in the match.

“Colesy had a bit of a scare there, and Darren and Mitchell backed him up really well – the way they ran in constantly taking Matt’s share of overs. And obviously Hugh as well – he didn’t bowl too much, but he got three wickets in the game.

“It was crucial – he broke the partnership of [Will] Bragg and [James] Kettleborough [in the Glamorgan second innings] which started the roll to get them five down in their second innings.

“I think everyone played a part, from one to 11.”

Photography via Sarah Ansell Photography