Kent batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond is hoping to nail down a place in the side this coming season.

The 19 year old opening batsman made his County Championship debut for Kent in their last game of 2012 against Glamorgan in Cardiff after impressing for both the England Under 19’s, the Kent 2nd XI and for the side in the tour match against South Africa last summer.

Having spent a few months in Australia over the winter, Bell-Drummond told KSN how the experience was invaluable, especially given as it was his first time away without the support network that’s provided by the England Under 19’s squad:

“It was a brilliant experience – I loved it in South Australia. The training I did with the Academy was really tough, but I enjoyed that all the same as well.”

“I’m hopefully going to go back there in the future.”

“Being away with the England Under 19’s was more of a team thing, where as this was very different, playing with new people and playing with the Australians themselves was a different culture.”

Now back at Canterbury and having joined up with his team-mates for pre-season, Bell-Drummond is enjoying life back at the St Lawrence Ground, even if the weather’s not what it should be:

“It was good to get playing again and get a few hours out in the field and see how it went and everything seems positive.”

“Two months in Australia hasn’t done me any good to cope with the weather that has been chucked at us here. I’ve enjoyed getting back here with the lads and doing everything together.”

“Jimmy Adams made the point that we have all been together now for a year or so, so we can really look to push on, build as a team and go a step further than we did last year.”

“I think the signs are really positive and we’ve got a really good team spirit.”

A change of captaincy at Kent has seen James Tredwell take the reins after Rob Key’s seven year spell at the helm came to an end, but for Bell-Drummond, it will be business as usual:

“I didn’t play too much under Rob Key, but when I did he was a really experienced head to have and had brilliant tactical awareness and I’m sure James Tredwell will bring the same.”

“I think the club’s in a very good position, Keysey did a wonderful job and I am sure Treddy will carry on with that.”

With England Under 19 duty behind him now, Bell-Drummond admitted 2013 was a big season for him and he plans to secure a permanent slot in the Kent side:

“I will be hoping to play in all formats and look to push on this year. I will be around all summer so there won’t be any distractions and hopefully I can produce the results I’m wanting.”

“My target is to start the season batting at one, two or three in the Championship side, but I have got to keep my head down and whenever I do start, I’ve got to look to score runs.”

“Time moves on and although I look back at my time with England Under 19’s career with a lot of happiness, at the same time the real thing is First Class cricket and I need to stamp my authority in the First Class game.”

“That’s where I need to be going forward. I need to nail down a spot with Kent and produce the results for the team.”

Despite being renowned as a talented batsman, Bell-Drummond is more than useful with the ball in his hand, however he admits that might have to take a back seat after surgery on his ankle before Christmas:

“I will be concentrating on the batting this year as my bowling is slow progress. Hopefully in the future I will have a role to play with the ball, but I know batting is my main priority and with my ankle as it is, it’s perfectly fine to field, but I am continuing to do some strengthening work on it.”

“Maybe I will be able to bowl in the future, but for now batting has to come first.”

“If I don’t score runs I won’t be in the team and bowling is not even on my mind at the moment.”

Early indications are that Bell-Drummond has a massive future in the game. Fellow professionals speak very highly of him and gamblers would do well to put a few quid on the fact he will go on to one day represent England.

Picture supplied by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures visit www.sarahansellphotography.com