The season is now over for Kent and overall it’s been a ‘nearly’ year. It could have been the best season we’ve had for a long time and in the end it has ended up a disappointment. If we had chased 160 against Lancashire we’d have gone into the last game of the year hot on the heels of Nottinghamshire at the top of the table. Unfortunately, we lost that game and then faced Durham who were on fire with Harmison, Di Venuto, Chanderpaul, Benkenstein and young Will Smith. They had too much for us on the day and we ended up relegated for the first time in our history.
Positive signs for the future
Dropping down a division gives us a chance to move forward with some of the younger players so on a positive note it could be a blessing in disguise. Robbie Joseph was our outstanding player this season. To take 50 wickets this season, having started last year as a new boy in the club was an amazing achievement. He really fought his way into the team and became integral to the cause. When ‘RJ’ bowled well, Kent won games of cricket. Given he’s only 26-years-old and this was his first full year he performed brilliantly.
The next generation are showing promising signs. Sam Northeast, has been around for a bit, but hopefully he’ll get an opportunity. I’m positive that we can win promotion next year. We have to remember that what happened this year was the result of a number of people not performing at their best and I’m willing to put myself at the top of that list. If we can get the senior players playing as we know they can, and have Khan and Joseph coming through then the future starts looking pretty good for Kent.
Season of Change
I think the money and excitement that has been injected into cricket in the last year has been fantastic. We’ll have to wait and see if the Stanford game is a shambles or not, although you suspect given the guy’s credentials that it’ll be an amazing affair. What cricket needs is for that game to be a belter!
The pressure on the players will be intense and there is potentially a Pizza Hut advert in it for somebody. If you do drop a catch you’ll be letting down the 10 other guys and potentially cost yourself $1m – it certainly puts an interesting slant on things. Most of the guys will probably want to play down the money element and just try to enjoy the fixture. I suppose the best way to approach it would be to see the money as a bonus, albeit a big one, and try and approach the game with a bit of perspective. It’s easy to say it but I suppose the only thing we can do is wish them good luck.
I think the interest in the match will be there from all sorts, not just hardcore cricket fans. It’s not a traditional series like the Ashes so I think that people might tune in for that one match just to see what Twenty20 is all about.
Great start for Kevin
Kevin Pietersen has made a great start to his tenure as captain. I particularly like the way he’s managed Steve Harmison and brought him back into the side. Building up Harmy and Freddie shows how much he understands their importance to the England set-up. Those guys need confidence and positivity and the way KP has managed to instil that in them is a credit to his ability in the role. It looks as though he’s fed off their confidence himself and his own game has gone up a level.
I’m not sure Kevin has done anything wrong so far. I was a little disappointed not to see Ravi Bopara make the squad for the tour of India but at the same time I’m very pleased for Owais Shah that he has been included. I still think Michael Vaughan has a future with England so long as he gets his act together; I know from my experiences this season how tough it has been opening the batting at County level. I think a bit of a break will do him good and I bet his previous form against the Aussies will stand him in good stead for the Ashes.
Testing times ahead in India
The England squad looks strong but the test they face in India is going to be formidable. If you watch India playing Australia at the moment the wickets are slower than at club level and it could mean that they’ll be quite a few draws. It could well be a war of attrition. The Indians will play two seamers and two spinners with Anil Kumble bowling 45 overs it could be pretty turgid stuff; England are going to have to be a match for the tedium of it all.
I haven’t travelled with England in a while but I’ll never forget my experiences as part of the Ashes squad in Australia and the tour of South Africa. Everything starts off quite slowly and then all of a sudden the games come thick and fast. The real test is being mentally prepared; it’s easy to get distracted by the hanging around and media assignments, autographs etc. Playing out in India, the interest from the crowds will be intense and of course the England boys will be in the shop window given the developments in the IPL.
Nasser Hussain led a pretty tight ship when I was playing so their wasn’t too much in the way of hijinx. You get quite a bit of spare time and I remember that during the tour of Australia, me, Freddie and Harmy used to just sit in and watch Ricky Gervais in the Office! We were true professionals!
Until next time...