Captain Daniel Bell-Drummond has called on Kent’s players to focus on mastering the basics as they begin their push for survival in the County Championship.
Kent, currently at the bottom of Division 1, will resume red-ball cricket against fellow strugglers Worcestershire tomorrow.
Bell-Drummond emphasized the importance of getting back to basics as Kent prepares for the crucial season run-in, hoping to secure their place in the top division. He acknowledged the team’s challenging summer across all formats but believes a strong finish could keep them in the top flight.
“At the start of the season, you can set goals for the points you want from each game,” Bell-Drummond said. “But right now, we haven’t earned that right. We’ve only won one game all year, so we need to focus on the fundamentals, get in the fight, and take the game to our opponents.
“We’re taking it session by session—winning each session, winning days of cricket. Hopefully, that will lead to victories. We’re focusing on one day at a time.”
Bell-Drummond admitted that the situation is becoming increasingly desperate for Kent, but he remains hopeful that sticking to the basics will yield results.
Kent is currently 25 points behind Worcestershire and 30 points away from safety. After the game at New Road, they face a trip to third-bottom Warwickshire seven days later.
“We’re in a tough spot in the table,” Bell-Drummond admitted. “We’re way behind Worcestershire and Warwickshire, and we really need to get results. We’ll be pushing hard to achieve them.”
He acknowledged that Division 1 is always a difficult challenge, but the team is remaining optimistic and backing themselves to make something of the last five games.
Sam Billings, who captained the Oval Invincibles to win The Hundred competition for the second year in a row, was also mentioned as a source of inspiration, despite his golden duck in the final.
Bell-Drummond also reflected on Kent’s recent struggles in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, where they finished third-bottom in Group A with three wins from eight matches. Despite the disappointment, he saw promising signs, particularly from some of the younger players and bowlers like Grant Stewart and Charlie Stobo.
Looking ahead, Bell-Drummond is optimistic that Kent can build on these positives and improve their performance in the remaining matches. He sees the upcoming games as opportunities to secure vital points and keep their hopes of Division 1 survival alive.
