Kent captain Rob Key is backing batsman Ben Harmison to come good after a difficult first season with the club.

Harmison has scored just 311 runs in eleven County Championship games at an average of just 20.73 whilst batting at number three for the side since his signing from Durham in the winter.

Initially signed on a one year deal with the club having the option to extend that further, Harmison has been unfortunate to find himself batting in difficult situations for Kent and Key believes fans are yet to see the best of the 26 year old:

“I think Ben had a long run of eleven games and at times showed real promise. At the start of the year he seemed to be in real form and looked good, but just couldn’t get over the line to get his first fifty and then go on to get a hundred.”

“I think it’s been one of those summers, where if you are in good form and had that bit of luck, get that score he was so desperately needing, then I think we’d have seen something special from him.”

“He’s been batting at three where it’s quite hard and his bowling has been a work in progress as he’s had a tough few years with injury and loss of confidence, but the one thing he has got is a hell of a lot of talent and if he can realise that then I think he’ll be a fine, fine player.”

With a top score of just 46 in sixteen innings, Harmison found himself dropped from the first team, whilst having bowled just 13 overs all season.

Having signed for Kent as an all-rounder, Key told KSN that Harmison could benefit from playing some second team cricket to regain his form and confidence:

“I think he’s got as much ability and talent as anyone else in the staff. He’s a great fielder and a fantastic lad to have around. It’s been the wettest summer of all time and not the easiest to bat at number three as a young inexperienced batsman.”

“He just got to that point where he was so desperate to get a score that it became too much pressure for him and once he hets that score I think he’ll be a serious player.”

“He’s been training hard and I’ve never had any problems with Ben at all and I’m desperate for him to find that one score that kicks him on to special things, because he’s certainly got the ability.”

Harmison is a number of players that have been in negotiations with Kent in recent weeks over a new deal with news expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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