Sam Northeast among Kent stars to pledge future to club by agreeing new contracts to remain at the St Lawrence Ground
by Alex
Hoad
Kent's leading run scorer Sam
Northeast has agreed to remain with the county for another
season.
The 22-year-old joins Darren Stevens, James Tredwell and Geraint
Jones in extending their long stays with the county this week,
while Brendan Nash, Mark Davies and Ben Harmison will also remain
at the St Lawrence Ground.
Nash is widely expected to be given
Kolpak status next year meaning Kent will have space to bring in
another overseas player.
Northeast’s 969 runs at an average
of 57 this summer led the club’s standings in first class cricket,
while no one bettered his record of six half-centuries and three
tons.
He made his first class debut for
Kent as a 17-year-old five years ago this week and has already
passed the 3,000 first class run threshold with the club.
Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford
was unconcerned the deal was only for one-year and said: "He wanted
the deal. Some players might not like the pressure of playing in
the final year of a contract but it’s worked for him – he was our
highest run-scorer.
"I’m relaxed about him having a
one-year contract. Hopefully he can score even more next year."
Simon Cook and Chris Piesley are
two departures, for "cricketing reasons" according to Mr Clifford,
while Azhar Mahmood will not return unless Kent take up an option
to sign him for the T20 campaign alone.
New deals have also been handed to
youngsters Sam Billings, Fabian Cowdrey, Ben Kemp, Ivan Thomas and,
despite an injury-hit two years, Ashley Shaw. Adam Ball, Daniel
Bell-Drummond, Alex Blake, Matt Coles, Rob Key, Mike Powell, Adam
Riley and Charlie Shreck are already under contract next year.
Which players are you looking forward to seeing for Kent
next season? Have your say below.
19/09/12
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