At 43 years old, Darren Stevens is proving age is just a number and surely Kent Cricket should keep him for at least another year?

I’m not one for sticking my head above the parapet and having my say about all things sport in Kent of late, but this has got to be a no brainer.

Passionate about playing for Kent, I should know, Stevo has told me himself enough over the fourteen years we’ve known each other.

On Monday the all-rounder showed just what the Kent fans would be missing should he leave, smashing a career best 237 against Yorkshire at Headingley, coming in with his side deep in trouble at 39/5.

Smashing his 237 in just 225 balls, with 28 fours and 9 sixes, the swashbuckling Stevens was the integral part of a record sixth wicket partnership for Kent as he and captain Sam Billings put on an incredible 346.

I’m not usually one for sentiment when it comes to sport and especially cricket as I’ve known a lot of my generation to have retired from the game in the past five years, but Stevens has shown that he clearly has the appetite to carry on and in recent weeks the numbers have more than stacked up.

Kent’s position up until now has been to allow the likes of Mitchell Claydon to leave to join Sussex at the end of the season, allowing for space in the squad for youth to shine.

I wholeheartedly believe Matt Walker and co have the best interests of Kent at heart when making these long term decisions for the club and allowing Stevens to go at the end of the campaign looked to have been a difficult decision, but maybe in the long term plan, the best move for all concerned.

However, as we’ve seen in recent weeks, maybe it’s time for Kent and the powers that be at Canterbury to hold their hands up, admit they might have got this one wrong and do everything they can to keep Stevens for at least one more season.

Stevo has proved he can stay fit enough to last the season. Fair enough, he might need a squirt of WD40 in the mornings nowadays, but us chaps in our forties know that all too well.

Dedicated, passionate, settled in Kent with the family, Stevo has given his best years to the club and should of course have gone on and represented England.

Looking at careers in coaching and umpiring after his playing career comes to an end, Stevo isn’t one to rest on his laurels, but as the saying goes, you are a long time retired and he’s not ready.

I saw an interesting stat today. Stevo is the oldest player to score a double ton in the Championship since a chap called Walter Keeton in 1949.

Stats probably mean very little to Stevo and he’s not the biggest one for numbers, but he’s one of the most genuine, passionate and inspiring cricketers I have ever had the fortune to meet and spend time with.

Time for common sense to prevail Kent.