Kent batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond is set to bat at number five in the County Championship after scoring a ton on Wednesday.

The 19 year old showed all the class in the world as he punished the Cardiff MCCU bowling attack, racking up his maiden first class century at Canterbury and ended unbeaten on 102 as Kent declared on 333 for 8.

Having made his first class debut for Kent in the final County Championship game of last season against Glamorgan, Bell-Drummond will drop down the order from his regular opening slot to number five.

With the move proving to have been a success, Bell-Drummond will take up his new middle order position against Leicestershire next week in Kent’s first County Championship fixture of the new season with the teenager telling KSN how he was thrilled to have scored his maiden first class century:

“It was amazing, a dream come true, but hopefully the first of many though. I didn’t think about it too much out there as I knew we were going to declare soon.”

“I just carried on batting and batting and when Calum (Haggett) got out, I was on eighty odd and I was just thinking about getting a not out and not worrying about the hundred.”

“Thankfully, the new ball was sliding on to the bat, coming off really nicely and I was hitting quite a few boundaries to get there quickly.”

“Obviously I would like to do it in Championship games, but it’s nice to get my first first class hundred and to do it at home was an added bonus.”

With many tipping Bell-Drummond to have a bright future in the game, he admitted he will need to adapt to his new role in the side, but believes batting at five may be more beneficial in the short term:

“I’m used to coming in early and it was weird at first being in at five. I had a chat with the captain and coach before the game started and they said they plan for me to bat in the middle order for a bit, especially early season.”

“I was completely open to the idea even though I’m used to opening the batting. I understood the idea and it’s nice batting in the middle as you don’t get a new rock whizzing past you at the start of your innings.”

“Wherever I bat I’m pretty happy, as long as I can get into the first team.”

“It’s not easier at five, but you’re going to get less good balls there compared to the new ball as that’s just cricket. Hopefully I will score runs there and cement my place.”

“I’ve always wanted to be an opening batsman and that will never change, similar to Sam Northeast, but he has had it quite tough and is coming to the fore now.”

“Hopefully I can follow in his footsteps and do what he did last year.”

When compiling his century on Wednesday, Bell-Drummond took a shine to the bowling of friend Fabian Cowdrey who is playing for Cardiff MCCu and he puts some of his success at Canterbury down to skipper James Tredwell who encouraged him to come out of his shell:

“James Tredwell was a real calming influence and he kept telling me to play my natural game. He helped me along and we put on a good partnership.”

“After tea, there were a few bad balls and I was quite tentative on them and he told me to that although I wanted to keep my wicket, I had to be positive, because if you let people settle, they can get on top of you.”

“Luckily the bad balls came and I was really positive against Fabian.”

With a ton behind him now, Bell-Drummond has one eye on the Championship opener next week and is hoping to take his current form with him:

“Getting runs for a batsman is the main thing, no matter how you do it. I’m feeling confident going into the season, but every day is a new day in cricket and that will continue throughout my career.”

“I can take a lot of confidence from this, but I need to keep focusing on things day by day.”

A lot of the talk around the county circuit over the past month has been the weather with cricketers donning woolly hats and gloves in the field to keep warm and Bell-Drummond is hoping we see some warmer weather soon:

“It’s not been too bad this week, but when we played Hampshire and Surrey, they were the coldest days of my life playing cricket.”

“I thought if I could get through that, then batting in this weather would be easy for me.”

With the talent Bell-Drummond has and the attitude to match, he is one to watch for the new season.

Picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com