Sam Northeast is optimistic the best years of Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond’s career could still lie ahead of him.
Bell-Drummond has been awarded a testimonial year by the county.
A one-club man, Bell-Drummond has been given the honour after first joining as a seven-year-old and has represented Kent at senior level since 2011.
But fellow batsman Northeast, who played alongside Bell-Drummond in his first county spell, insists the 32-year-old could still get even better.
“There are a few guys like that, Sam (Billings) and Joe (Denly), who have been here for long periods of time,” said Northeast. “They have offered a huge amount to Kent Cricket and Deebs has, as well.
“He’s having his testimonial this year – but I still think that some of his best years might be ahead of him.
“Fingers crossed, he can put it all together this year. He’s going to be a busy man but he absolutely deserves it.”
Northeast, himself a former Kent skipper, makes his county comeback with Bell-Drummond as captain while former house-mate Sam Billings is Spitfires’ Vitality T20 Blast skipper.
“With Deebs captaining he, obviously, looks like he has matured over time,” said Northeast. “He looks like a really strong leader for this group.
“It’s good to see him leading it and he’s going to be a strong leader for us this year.
“The same with Sam. He has gone on and won Hundred competitions galore, and his experiences around the world are going to be invaluable.
“We have got enough good people and good leaders in the changing room, which I think can take us far.”
Seeing Bell-Drummond head into a leadership position, replacing Billings as club captain in 2023, as the latter stepped back from County Championship cricket, came as little surprise to Ashford-born Northeast.
“Deebs has always been somebody that is extremely well liked,” he admitted. “People follow him so, naturally, I think he was going to take on a role at some stage like that.
“Sometimes, it’s quite nice to let yourself mature and get it at the right age rather than, sometimes, you get it a bit early. Then, you’re learning on the job.”
Unlike most, father Northeast has spent most of his summer at Kent’s indoor school in Canterbury.
Northeast said: “I’ve been here for most of it. I do a bit of teaching at a school and I’ve been doing a Masters degree, as well, so I’ve just finished that.
“There are just little bits and pieces, and trying to parent, as well, and I throw a few things into the mix these days, compared to my time here previously when it was definitely full-on cricket.
“Now, it’s a bit of a mixture. Loads of guys have been away so there’s been about six or seven of us, who have been a constant theme throughout the winter.”
Northeast, 36, has undertaken his Leadership in Sport Masters degree with one eye on life after he decides to hang up his boots.
“I have got to start planning for my career after cricket now,” he added. “I have got to do stuff like that over the winters.”
First up for Kent is a lengthy trip north to take on Durham, who were relegated from County Championship Division 1 last season into Division 2, at Chester-le-Street from Friday.
Northeast said: “It’s going to be a tricky game.
“They’re a strong side, aren’t they? It’s going to be a good test. But we’re going to have to beat teams like Durham if we’re going to get promotion or if we want to be right up there.
“It’s going to be a tricky start but, hopefully, we can catch them on the hop and get a good advantage.”
