Kent’s red-ball captain, Daniel Bell-Drummond, has shared his reasons for highly valuing the club cricket scene in the county. Last weekend, Bell-Drummond showcased his skills in the Kent League Premier Division, playing for Blackheath and scoring a brilliant century that contributed to a dominant 196-run victory over Bickley Park, the league’s bottom team. Despite his busy schedule, Bell-Drummond occasionally finds time for club cricket, as he did in this match, where he played alongside his county teammate, Arafat Bhuiyan.
Bell-Drummond believes that the top divisions of club cricket are crucial for Kent’s young players, providing them with valuable experience in regular men’s first-team cricket. He particularly highlights the benefits for emerging talents like Jaydn Denly and Jas Singh, who have gained significant knowledge and become more streetwise by playing club cricket from an early stage.
As the Premier Division title race intensifies, with Minster, Blackheath, and St Lawrence & Highland Court all in contention, Bell-Drummond praises the high standard of the league. He enjoys returning to the competition and appreciates the competitive nature of the games, even though the pace may differ from the first-class level.
In his match against Bickley Park, Bell-Drummond smashed 159 runs off 131 balls, including 21 boundaries and three sixes. Reflecting on the game, he expressed his enjoyment of playing cricket, especially after a brief period of inactivity during The Hundred, where his matches clashed with Kent’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup games.
While Bell-Drummond used this opportunity to regain his form before Kent’s County Championship run-in, he jokingly admitted that he almost considered pulling out of the match after learning it would be played with a pink ball. Nonetheless, he emphasized the importance of time in the middle, regardless of the level, and reiterated his respect for the game.
With Minster still leading the Premier Division by 23 points with three fixtures remaining, Bell-Drummond recalled Blackheath’s near-relegation battle last year. Despite having a largely unchanged squad, the team has dramatically improved this season, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of the Kent League. As Kent captain, Bell-Drummond remains optimistic about Blackheath’s title chances, noting their strong position after five consecutive wins.
