Daniel Bell-Drummond signs contract extension

Kent opening batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond has signed a contract extension after an encouraging summer.

The Kent Cricket Academy graduate has been an ever-present at the top of the order for Kent in 2015 including an excellent innings of 127 against Australia in June.

In May, he scored back-to-back LV= County Championship centuries at Canterbury in May and was the Spitfires' second top-scorer with 330 runs in the NatWest T20 Blast on the run to the quarter-finals.

Bell-Drummond, who celebrates his 22nd birthday next week, is one of 16 home-grown players in the Kent squad and had no hesitation in committing his future.

The Lewisham-born opener said: “It’s been great to grow up with this group of lads, the team spirit is great and you can see the progress we have made, particularly in limited-overs cricket.

“Championship cricket can be tough on result pitches but I’m confident there’s more to come from us in the longer format.

“The club is heading in the right direction with cricket returning to The County Ground, Beckenham and the great work the Academy does in bringing through young talent.”

The former England Under-19 player follows Spitfires skipper Sam Northeast and all-rounder Matt Coles in committing their long-term future to the club.

Chairman of cricket Graham Johnson said: “We are trying to build a squad for success in the long-term and Daniel’s signing shows he believes in the project.

“We are confident that investing in young talent will pay dividends in the long term and Sam Billings selection for England this summer is further evidence of that.

“Daniel was on the radar of our age group coaches from a very early age and it is great for Members and Supporters to see him prosper in first-class cricket and perform against the best, he did against the Australians this summer.”