Sam Northeast: “It feels like the right time to move on”

Former Kent captain speaks of his decision to turn down a contract with the Canterbury club in favour of Division One cricket

^{“The opportunity to test myself against the best and the highest level in England was a factor"}

Northeast turned down the offer of a contract extension at Canterbury with Kent receiving a fee from Hampshire, given the player still had a year of his contract to run.

The deal will keep him at the Ageas Bowl until at least 2021 and the batsman believes the move will increases his chances of a call-up to the England squad.

Speaking to Kent Online, Northeast said: “It has been a big part of my life and I will be leaving some good relationships behind but it is an exciting challenge.

“We sat down with people at the club and probably didn’t agree where we went forward - the ambition of the club and where I wanted to go with my career.

“It just didn’t align. It happens and there is no bitterness to Kent, sometimes it’s good to have a new challenge.

“These things aren’t straightforward and it’s never the right timing and how it came to a head. It feels like the right time to move on.”

SAM NORTHEAST CAREER STATS

First class: 136 matches, 223 innings, 8,528 runs, 19 100s, ave 39.66

List A: 88 matches, 80 innings, 2,462 runs, 3 100s, ave 32.82

T20: 90 matches, 82 innings, 2,282 runs, 1 100, ave 32.14

“If I looked back on my career and not played Division One cricket, apart from the brief spell when I was 21 and we came straight back down, I would have been disappointed.

“The opportunity to test myself against the best and the highest level in England was a factor. It will be a great opportunity and a challenge and hopefully if you score runs, you can be ready for the next level.”

“We have just come up short in a few areas, getting to a few quarter-finals and then not kicking on in the Championship and finishing second that year and not getting promoted.

“The club struggled through a lot of financial times but I remember the run chase with Darren Stevens breaking the world record at the time and some memorable wins along the way. There are so many people to thank.

“We never won the things that we quite wanted to but I will leave with some great memories and the great support from the fans.

“The captaincy has been a challenge at times. Kent doesn’t have all the money in the world but it has a lot of talent and great players.”