Captain Daniel Bell-Drummond thinks South African overseas paceman Keith Dudgeon could have a massive impact this season for Kent – with bat and ball.
The right-armer, 30, will be available across all formats for the County Championship Division 2 club after his first county stint lasted a single match.
Dudgeon made an impressive start, producing a career-best 7-36 on his debut against Northamptonshire. But it proved his only Kent appearance as he injured his knee in the warm-up before an eight-wicket victory over Middlesex in Canterbury last April.
While Dudgeon is primarily known as a bowler, Bell-Drummond believes he could also turn out to be a key lower-order batsmen.
“We have got two overseas seamers, which will help to bolster our bowling department,” said Bell-Drummond, with Dudgeon due to be joined at Kent by fellow South African overseas signing Glenton Stuurman at the start of this summer. “We’re all looking forward to having Keith back.
“I don’t think 7-36 is the benchmark that he can always set! But he’s a very experienced cricketer, a very hungry cricketer, and is at a good stage in his career, as well.
“He got an opportunity with Kent last year and, in the small time we had him, he took it with both hands. We’re looking forward to welcoming him.
“He can offer a lot with the bat, as well, down the bottom-end of the innings. That’s another thing we have been working on just, strategically, making sure we get runs in all parts of our innings.
“We’re looking at different ways we can win games and be the best team we can be.
“Obviously, the last two years have been quite tricky with injuries and it gets to a point where it’s not luck, right? It might be luck in terms of some diving injuries and stuff like that – but we’re always thinking outside the box and trying to make the best of what we have.
“We have a lot of good players in that changing room and it’s up to us to bring the best out of them.”
Bell-Drummond, who has been awarded a testimonial year by the county for this summer, thinks it’s key Adam Hollioake’s troops adopt a more front-foot mentality as they look to improve on a tough campaign.
He said: “Especially when our backs were against the wall, we learnt a lot about the character of the players in our team.
“But in saying that, we want to make sure we throw the first punch – and we don’t get behind in games. There were some good individual performances in losing causes.
“Someone like Ben Compton had an unbelievable year. But it’s a case of ‘How can we build together as a team and bat together in partnerships, and bowl in partnerships to deliver winning cricket?’. I know we will do that this year.
“I would say they were the main lessons but, ultimately, it’s up to us when we get in the middle.”
Bell-Drummond is confident Kent can have a better time of it this time around, with Sam Northeast and Matt Milnes adopting their overseas quota of players that includes South African all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy and Australian Tom Rogers, as well as Dudgeon and Stuurman.
“I’m very optimistic,” said Bell-Drummond. “Last year, we had a lot of challenges and a lot of injuries, as well, but we didn’t perform well as a group.
“To be honest, from my point of view, it got to the point last year where we were blooding some good young players and preparing them for this year.
“We have got some brilliant additions coming in. Sam Northeast is coming home and Matt Milnes, who is also coming back to the club, are two quality players.
“We have got two overseas players coming in, with Stuurman and Dudgeon. I think, on paper, we’re very happy with where we’re at. We have been training hard and working on a few things to get it right this season.
“We’re very confident but, at the end of the day, it’s one step a time and a game at a time.”
Batsman Bell-Drummond is part of what appears to be a strong Kent batting line-up.
But while opener Ben Compton and Tawanda Muyeye did well, Kent largely struggled to perform well as a unit again.
Bell-Drummond said: “I just group bowling and batting together.
“You’re trying to win games and, at the end of the day, that’s about getting as many runs on the board as possible but, also, getting 20 wickets. Ultimately, I think we have to play better as a whole team.
“Obviously, it starts for us on April 3 (away to Durham). I’m confident that the guys will do well and get stuck in.
“There is competition for places. There are some brilliant young batters coming through. That competition will keep everyone on their toes and, ultimately, we need performances with the bat and the ball.
“It’s not just about individual performances.”
