SAM DALLING: Kent's stand-in captain will play his 100th T20 Blast match on Monday, and he credits his upturn in form in short-format cricket to being left out of The Hundred's initial draft in 2019
“Is it really?” asks Daniel Bell-Drummond. “Time is flying”. The Kent opener reaches another century this week, Monday night’s T20 Blast game with Somerset his 100th in the competition.
Despite being just 27, he has been in the first XI at Canterbury for over a decade.
“I still feel young… I still am young! And I’m still really enjoying it.”
He stops to gather his thoughts. Milestones are cricket's reflective juncture.
“Wow: it’s a bit crazy to think I’ve been playing first-class cricket for 10 years. It feels strange but I’m still learning so much. Hopefully the peak of my career is still to come: there’s a lot to look forward to it.”
Before his Blast bow, Bell-Drummond made a pair of appearances against touring sides from India and New Zealand. The first was a particularly unforgettable experience back in 2011. His eyes widen as he recalls coming up against Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin and a young Virat Kohli.
“It was supposed to be a 50-over game but got reduced because of the weather. Joe Denly scored a ridiculous hundred out of our 159 and we still didn’t chase the runs (Kent finished five down and six runs short of victory). Kohli was a young guy but you could tell he was going to be a superstar. I was only 18. What a moment. A day I’ll never forget.”
His first-class and List A debuts came that summer, before – as he remembers correctly – a competitive T20 outing came in a victory over Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl in 2013. Bell-Drummond has since racked up more than 11,600 runs in Kent colours, passing 50 83 times, converting 16 of those innings into centuries.
Daniel Bell-Drummond plays his 100th T20 Blast match on Monday
One came in T20 against Surrey back in 2016, and he has racked up 2,843 runs in the competition, with 21 half-centuries. A strike-rate of 136.09 makes him no slouch, but since last season’s Blast began that has increased to a helter-skelter 159. The watershed moment came having dipped below 120 in 2019.
“Getting left out of The Hundred draft in the first round was a real kick for me,” he admitted to The Cricketer.
His natural blend of humility and steeliness then sets in: “I don’t want to say disappointed but it was a realisation that I needed to move my game forward. I’m glad it happened in a way. I’ve worked very hard since then – all round but particularly my white-ball game – and will continue to do so.
“After 2019 I’ve made a conscious effort to up my strike rate. The game is moving forward and I knew I could be better than that. I needed to in order get noticed. But I’ve got to balance that with not being too risky and giving my wicket away.”
And it is not just strike rate that has Bell-Drummond peeking above the parapet. He scored a Blast-leading 423 runs in 2020, and his 681-run tally since the start of last summer is bettered by no one. The secret to his recent success? Intent.
“I still range hit but no more than usual. It’s been about upping my intent really: a few new shots here and there and being braver with my choices, rather than trying to get any stronger or hit further.
"After 2019 I’ve made a conscious effort to up my strike rate. The game is moving forward and I knew I could be better than that"
“At the top of the order with two fielders out, it’s about finding gaps rather than hitting it as far as you can. Having Joe Denly and Zak Crawley at the other end has kept the bar high. They’re both internationals – I am sure Zak will play white-ball for England as well – and help me see what is possible if I keep moving my game forward.”
Heads were turned in Sri Lanka and Bell-Drummond wintered with Colombo Kings in the LPL. Following a slow start, he made 70 off 53 balls in a losing semi-final cause. His teammates included Angelo Matthews and Andre Russell. “It has definitely made me a better player” he says.
It was not his first experience of spin subcontinental conditions: he played once in the BPL with Rajshahi Royals and toured Sri Lanka with England Lions in 2017. A regularly traveller, he frequently plays Australian Grade cricket over the winter, and turned out for Auckland Aces in 2016.
At that point Bell-Drummond was on the cusp of full international honours. He could almost taste it after bludgeoning an unbeaten 171 from 139 balls against Sri Lanka A in 2016. Somehow, though, he played the understudy that day, Ben Duckett smashing 220 not out off 131 deliveries. The pair put on a then List A record 367 for the second wicket.
Eight of that day’s Lions have made full-international debuts. A ninth – George Garton – could do so in the next fortnight. But Bell-Drummond has been out of the picture since 2017. Despite that, he still hopes to force his way into contention.
Bell-Drummond on England Lions duty with Dawid Malan in 2017
“It’s a very tough team to get into,” he admitted. “There’s so much strength in depth: I have to be realistic. But my numbers don’t lie and white-ball form is very good at the minute. I still believe one day I can make the grade. I still feel like I am good enough and I’m only 27.
“For now, I’m just enjoying my cricket and all I can do is score runs from Kent. I want to continue to do that and my name will be out there. Even though the Lions was four years ago, that taste of being so close to making the full side – in theory you’re one team away - makes you want to be back there.”
In the meantime, Bell-Drummond has Kent to skipper. He has taken the reigns in Billings’ absence, and kept hold of them during his brief release from England’s bubble. The extra responsibility is helping him thrive.
“I’ve had the backing of the Kent staff to go out and express myself. I kind of feel like I’ve got to lead from the front –I don’t need to really as the team is so great – but being in charge, I try to get the guys are off to a good start.”
Less enjoyable have been the selection headaches caused by returning England stars, with Alex Blake and Ollie Robinson both missing out in recent weeks as a result.
“There are tough decisions to be made and we do it as a unit. It shows our strength in depth. We’ve got players who’ve sat out games who are class in their own right. It shows our strength in depth. If you want to win competitions, you need that and we definitely have it. It makes for tough conversations but that is where we have to get to if we want to be a trophy winning side.”
Bell-Drummond isn’t the only Kent batter in good nick. Although they started the campaign with three straight victories, they were three down inside the first four overs against both Gloucestershire and Middlesex. Middle-order half-centuries from Jack Leaning (81 and 64) and Jordan Cox (64) came to the rescue. “Last year we got off to such good starts that other guys didn’t get the chance to get much rhythm,” Bell-Drummond explained, referencing his opening partnership with Crawley who himself made 324 runs in the 2020 Blast.
“Other than the Essex game a few weeks ago where we got everything right, I wouldn’t say we’ve fired on all cylinders yet. The likes of Jack Leaning, Jordan Cox have been brilliant for us this year when at times we’ve struggled up top. They’ve a good hit and been allowed to showcase their skills. These are brilliant signs going forward: we’ve got so many matchwinners in the squad. That is what is needed to win competitions.”
In that Essex clash, Kent reached their best ever Blast score 236 for 3. Bell-Drummond thrashed 88, Crawley 69 and Leaning an unbeaten 42 off 17, before taking 3 for 15. "I grew up playing England Under-19s with Jack so I've always known how good a cricketer he is. At Yorkshire – with Test players coming in and out constantly – I’m sure it is quite hard to nail down a secure spot but I’m glad he moved to Kent. He has shown his class.
"It is great for him to showcase his talent for eveyone to see. He is trusted here, not just with the bat but with the ball as well. He's been an outstanding addition. Long may it continue."
Kent are well placed to achieve a quarter-final berth, the stage at which they crashed out against Surrey last year. Bell-Drummond was philosophical when reflecting on the end of that campaign.
Bell-Drummond in an early Kent appearance in 2014
“It was a shame after how well we started the competition. But ultimately cricket is a game where one team wins and the other loses! That has set a benchmark though. We’ve been doing well for the last for years and now it's about trying to get one step further.”
Before any potential knock-out Blast game, Bell-Drummond’s attention will turn to The Hundred, having been snapped up by Birmingham Phoenix in the re-draft. Acknowledging the new tournament has its detractors, he is excited to link-up with the likes of Moeen Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Kane Williamson and Adam Zampa.
“I can’t wait. There will be a lot of world-class players around. It has been on the horizon for ages but obviously it’s very new to all of us. I know there has been a weird start to it - like anything new that’s what happens – but I hope it will slowly grow on people. I do think it will go down quite well.”
And franchise cricket has wider benefits that counties can reap, and indeed have done. “There are so many positives. It brings new things to the table: improving personally around those guys but also seeing others from English counties go about their cricket too. That aspect of it can be brought back to Kent.”
Plus, it helps with overseas signings. Qais Ahmad was a teammate of Bell-Drummonds at the LPL, while Billings’ connections have helped secure the services of Carlos Braithwaite and Marcus Stoinis.
“It is the way cricket is going. There are more and more of these leagues where everyone comes to together to play for different teams. You need people around the world – Joe Denly is playing a lot too – as contacts are really important. It is great for us to spread our wings, meet new people and experience different cultures. I can only speak highly about it. It’s the way of the world now and I’m really looking forward doing more.”
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