Women’s captain Megan Belt is out to achieve Tier 2 success at Kent – and prove a point to England Cricket Board’s hierarchy.
Kent missed out on Tier 1 status in last year’s massive restructure of women’s cricket despite being the most successful side in the history of the women’s game with eight County Championship and three T20 titles.
That has led to an exodus of elite Kent players, with England internationals Alice Davidson-Richards, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Grace Scrivens and Tammy Beaumont moving on.
But joining the Horses for 2025 are former Surrey skipper Amy Gordon and Tilly Callaghan, and Margate-born Belt is setting her sights high.
She said: “I’ve grown up, playing for Kent since I was nine.
“I was in the bid for Tier 1 at Lord’s. I thought it was going really well so I was quite surprised when we didn’t get Tier 1.
“For me, it does spur you on. I want to prove to the ECB that we’re are a really good team. We have produced some really good players.
“I know we’re saying it’s not down to money and things like that – but Kent aren’t the richest club. But we have still managed to produce the most England players and we’re the most successful women’s county side in history.
“For me, it’s frustrating because I think we’ve proven what we can do with a limited amount of money. I do think to myself ‘Imagine if we had as much money as other clubs, what could we do?’. It’s frustrating.
“My goal – and I know it’s an ambitious goal – is to win Tier 2 to prove we can still do it.
“If we can beat the two counties that have been given Tier 1 status, I think that sends a message to the ECB.
“I feel really passionate about it.”
Spinner Belt, 27, is looking forward to working alongside a more balanced squad this year after an exceptionally youthful feel to the team last term.
“I think we have got one girl under 18 this year as opposed to 15 under-18s last year,” she said. “We have got age on our side and experience in that way.
“Signing Amy Gordon and Tilly Callaghan, they’re some big names in women’s cricket, which could have gone to other tiers and other counties.
“But we’ve got in early, they’re playing for us and they’re going to be great experienced players to set the tone.”
Another planned step in the right direction for 2025 will see the Horses play at Canterbury’s Spitfire Ground seven times, as well as at Beckenham.
“I absolutely love playing here,” Belt noted. “The highlight for me is, where I’m a teacher, all my kids coming to watch. It makes me feel like I’m at home because it is my home here.
“There’s no better ground than here so I’m really excited to play.
“I hope the girls coming in from other counties share the same passion that I do and realise it’s a lovely ground to play at.”
Belt also commented on how the experience of building a closer relationship between the men’s squad and Kent Women worked in 2024.
“It went really well,” she said. “The Tier 1 bid that we did really highlighted it for me, spending time with most of the male side of the coaching staff.
“It proves how much Simon Storey, the [outgoing] CEO, really values Kent Women. Just the way they speak about the women’s team, it shows you that we are one group and they really value us.
“It’s nice they back us, just as we back the men’s team.”
Kent Women begin 2025 in Women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup League 2 with an away game with Middlesex tomorrow.
