Seamer Mitch Claydon has told KSN that he is revelling in the responsibility of being one of the senior players in the Kent squad.

Claydon took 4-50 as Kent bowled Loughborough MCCU out for 271 on the second day of their First Class game at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence. Having lost the first day completely to rain, the day gave the Kent bowlers the opportunity to get some overs under their belts and prepare for their first Championship game of the season, which starts on Sunday away at Worcestershire.

And 31-year-old Claydon, who signed for Kent on a permanent deal on the summer having spent much of last season on loan in Canterbury, said that he is enjoying being able to act as a role model to some of the younger members of the team.

“Coming from Durham, where it was a really senior team, I was probably still one of the younger players there”, he explained.

“Then to walk into this changing room where there’s a lot of young guys that I suppose look up to you and come to you for advice is something I’m absolutely loving, to be honest.

“If I can help any of them out, it’s a bonus, but that’s a part of the game that I really enjoy.”

Claydon also said that he was enjoying being a permanent member of the Kent side in 2014.

“Last year was a bit of a shambles”, he said.

“I was up and down the country and having to go back to Durham and play and do well, and then be left out just because they couldn’t play me.

“To feel part of a place now more than anything is massive and I think we’ve got a really good squad.”

Claydon is also looking forward to welcoming the club’s overseas signing – fellow Australian Doug Bollinger – into the squad. The Australian international will be arriving at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in the morning.

“With Dougie [Bollinger] getting here tomorrow morning, it’s only going to help”, said Claydon, who has known Bollinger since their younger days Down Under.

“We played our first Colts game together when we were about 20 I think. He’s from the same area as I’m from – we’re probably only half an hour apart.

“He’s coming to my place in the morning at 8am, so I’ll see him then and I’ll bring him in to meet the squad.”

Claydon was pleased to pick up four wickets on Kent’s opening day of First Class cricket in 2014, although he said the pitch had not made things easy for the bowlers.

“Yesterday was a bit frustrating, sat around all day.

“After winning the toss and sending them in, it was tough work because it was really, really slow and damp. There was a little bit there but not a lot – with a slow wicket, it just helps the batters a little bit because they’ve got time to adjust.

“I think we’ve done pretty well to bowl them out, but that wasn’t a massive part of it – it was mainly just about the bowlers getting overs. I think we all bowled roughly 19 or 20 each, so we’ve got everything out of today that we wanted, really.”

“I felt a little bit rusty early, but to come back and get four is just a bonus really.”

 

Second picture supplied by www.sarahansellphotography.com.