Sam Northeast sets coordinates for promotion on return to Kent Sam Northeast, the former Kent batter, expressed confidence that his home county can achieve "something special" during his return to the club after a nine-year absence. The Ashford-born player, who previously spent a decade with Kent before moving to Hampshire and Glamorgan, is back on home soil this season. Kent finished at the bottom of County Championship Division Two last year following relegation, but Northeast, 36, is optimistic about a resurgence. "there's an inner belief that we could do something special this year but we have to go out and prove it," Northeast said in an interview with BBC Radio Kent. "we're quietly confident of a good season. the aim for the club has got to be to get promotion over the next few years, and to play a part in that would be special. to get a bit of silverware would be equally special." Northeast, who holds the record for the highest first-class score at Lord's—335 not out against Middlesex in 2024—also reflected on his recent stint with Glamorgan. He captained the Welsh side in the red-ball game for two seasons and previously led Kent during his initial spell with the club. "leaving glamorgan on a high—getting promotion for the first time in 20-odd years—was nice," he added. "the goal for me is to make sure kent is one of the top clubs in the country again." The club’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, aims to leverage Northeast’s experience to mentor the team’s younger batting talent. "when i sat down with cooky, he wanted to make sure the young guys coming through were mentored in the right way," Northeast explained. "it's not a definitive role within the club, but it's something i would naturally do anyway.#kent #sam_northeast #bbc_radio_kent #simon_cook #durham
Kent Spitfires’ Vitality T20 Blast skipper Sam Billings on Sam Northeast’s county comeback Sam Billings, captain of the Kent Spitfires in the Vitality T20 Blast, has expressed his support for Sam Northeast’s return to the county team. The 36-year-old batsman, who was born in Ashford, has signed a two-year deal with Kent after previously leaving for Hampshire in 2018. Billings, who replaced Northeast as captain, believes the timing of his return is ideal. Northeast, who was once a key figure in Kent’s academy system, will now play alongside Billings again. The pair have shared a long history, with Billings recalling living with Northeast during his time as captain. “He’s a great guy,” Billings said. “I played a lot of cricket with him growing up. He was definitely the ‘star boy’ and it’s no surprise he’s turned out to be such a quality player. It’s fantastic to have him back.” Billings emphasized that Northeast’s return is beneficial for both the team and his own mindset. “It was healthy for everyone, and his own mentality, the timing of when he left,” he said. “He went on to play brilliantly wherever he went, but now is the time for him to come home. He’s exactly the type of player and personality we need around the group. He sets incredibly high standards and demands them from others, which is exactly what we need in the dressing room.” Billings also hinted that Northeast may need to earn his place in the Spitfires’ squad this summer. “A good definition of leadership is how you elevate others into positions of leadership,” he said. “He played brilliantly for us in the T20 Blast, but he probably won’t start. However, there’s definitely a lot of experience and potential he could bring.#the_hundred #sam_billings #kent_spitfires #vitality_t20_blast #sam_northeast
