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Kent County Cricket Club batsman Sam Northeast writes exclusively for the KM Group

Sam Northeast
Sam Northeast

It feels like such a long time ago since we played Essex in the opening championship match of the season at Chelmsford – which started so brightly for me with a hundred and a win for the team.

Was it a season of what might have been? I think so.

When I look back at our bowling resources with everyone fit and the additions of Wahab Riaz and David Balcombe, we had an attack that can burst through any batting line-up.

We didn’t have the consistency, though, and I hope we will sign an overseas bowler next year for the whole season.

It’s probably best to quickly gloss over our t20 loss at Leicester and I don’t think I have still come to terms with what happened on that night. We could have gone all the way in the competition.

From a batsman’s view, all the chat has been about the Tiflex ball which made most of our batters struggle this year.

Mark Ramprakash said on twitter that it was ruining young cricketers coming through and that their careers are over before they have even started.

Reflecting on my own season, there is no doubt I should have scored more runs and my performances in the last two months have been below par.

I believe this ball does more than other balls have in previous years. This leads you to change technique in search of a score and even worse, you struggle mentally to believe you are good enough and it’s a downward slope from there.

The exciting thing is that we have a lot of talented players in our squad and coming through. We have got to be looking to emulate the likes of Josh Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and James Taylor.

We have had a look at what it’s like at this level and it’s time now to work hard this winter and get there ourselves.

Congratulations to Azhar Mahmood on his Player-of-the-Year award after a brilliant year. He is unbelievable with the bat and still wily with the ball. I hope to see him at Kent for seasons to come.

Finally, just a word about the pink ball issue. A lot of people tweeted complaining about my comments last week. I think they were misinterpreted.

I said there was no point us playing with the pink ball, if the supporters don’t enjoy the game. Of course we will play it if there is great demand for it. I just don’t think the supporters or the players think it has a future.

Stevo voiced his views on the matter and so I will leave it to him.

Finally I would like to wish all Kent members, supporters and followers a happy winter and look forward to seeing you all back at Canterbury next season, refreshed and raring to go once again.

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