Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond didn’t have to go back far to find inspiration for his double hundred at Lord’s this week.
The 31-year-old put his testing start to the summer with the bat behind him in spectacular style by scoring 223 against Middlesex – his second-highest first-class score.
After compiling just 66 runs in his previous seven innings, Bell-Drummond came good just when Kent needed it after being skittled out for 129 on day one of their County Championship Division 2 match in the capital.
Bell-Drummond revealed he’d looked at footage of his career-best 300 not out against Northants two years ago ahead of the game.
With a week off in the schedule, Bell-Drummond took advantage to have a timely reset.
“I had five days back in London just seeing friends and family and then I still had another five training sessions,” said Bell-Drummond.
“It felt the week off was that long and I just tried to look at old footage really of when I’ve been at my best.
“I was in England all winter and sometimes you can get a bit bowling-machine friendly and not be game-ready.
“I had a great pre-season but I just looked back at old footage and tried to go back to that a little bit, which felt a lot more comfortable.
“I looked at the 300 not out, more for technical things as I don’t get confidence like that.
“What’s been has been but it’s been more technical. I’ve opened up my stance slightly, I was getting a bit too side on.
“That was the main thing, and allowing my swing to come through and access the ball a bit better.
“I’ve just been getting out in some weird ways, there’s been a few more green wickets than we had last year.
“That’s been great for the neutral and our team but obviously it makes it trickier as a top-order batter which we’re all getting used to – apart from Ben Compton who keeps going from strength to strength!
“It’s just been one of those things and I’m very grateful that the big score came.”
It ultimately proved in vain, however, after Middlesex snatched victory by two wickets in a dramatic contest that went down to the last seven balls of the match.
But that didn’t take away from Bell-Drummond’s double ton at Lord’s, which was a combination of concentration, skill and stubborn resistance on a pitch that offered plenty for the bowlers.
That wasn’t necessarily the case when Bell-Drummond hit the only triple ton of his career, so how did this week’s innings compare?
“They are different knocks,” he said. “I can never bash the 300 but this wicket was a lot more bowler-friendly.
“I was happy with Northants as we won the game and they mean a bit more when they’re in a winning cause.
“I’d obviously say this innings, the ball was doing a lot more, so my technique really stood up to it. The 300 was a Kookaburra and this was a Dukes ball.
“It was a great day for me on Sunday but it hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Bell-Drummond has had plenty on his plate with the captaincy to think about alongside his own struggles with the bat.
While many could see that as a hindrance, it might also have helped him not focus too much on his batting woes in the opening weeks of the campaign.
“Obviously as captain, you’ve got a few different jobs to do,” said Bell-Drummond.
“You want to do well for the team but at the same time make sure your own individual performances are where they need to be.
“It’s been a tough start but I’ve been training hard, I’ve felt in a good place most of the time so I’m just thankful it came good this week.
“You never know [if the captaincy makes a difference] because I’m just comparing it to myself but that’s the privilege of being captain.
“There’s other things to deal with as well. But I’m old enough and wise enough to give the right amount of time to my batting.”
It was only once Bell-Drummond got to his double hundred that he went through the gears, hitting three sixes in as many overs before his dismissal.
The captain insisted that it was about building the team’s lead rather than his personal milestone.
“It was more just who I was batting with and getting the lead up and then obviously trusting all the bowlers,” he reflected.
“I didn’t want to start slogging from seven down, there were still three wickets left and then when Kashif Ali came in, we had a bit of fun, although that didn’t last long enough sadly.”
Kent return to four-day action at Canterbury from tomorrow (Friday) when they host Glamorgan.
