Fabian Cowdrey: India trip has helped my game

In thirteen Twenty20 appearances for the Spitfires to date, Fabian Cowdrey has shown glimpses of his potential to develop into a Kent match-winner.

The 22-year-old, who his maiden County Championship half-century against Glamorgan last week, continued his cricketing education in the close season with a trip to the sub-continent. While there, he picked up skills and confidence that he hopes will transfer into his NatWest T20 Blast performances this year.

“I spent most of the winter working in the indoor nets at Canterbury, but the highlight was a 10-day trip to India with Jimmy Adams and some of the lads from the Kent Academy,” said the former Tonbridge School pupil.

“I felt the whole experience was really profitable for me as a cricketer. We went to a cricket academy an hour outside Delhi. I was the only non-Academy player on the trip, so I felt like the ‘senior pro’ in some ways, but it was a great experience overall.

“They’re really fanatical about their cricket over there, so we had lads queuing up to take part in the net sessions and to bowl at us. As a result, I got to hit plenty of balls but I also spent a good time bowling in the nets as well.

“With the likes of Tredwell, Riley and Qayyum in our squad, I’m deemed more of a one-day spinner, but it’s still important to me to work on that facet of my game. I feel in a good place right now, it’s just about moving it forward at full county level and developing a greater consistency of performance.”

Looking forward to tonight’s clash with neighbours Sussex, Cowdrey added: “These games will come thick and fast now and for me it’s the most exciting time of the summer. We have a lot of players with confidence in this format and we’re really looking forward to the test.

“The scheduling creates a challenge in itself, in as much as we only had one full day to prepare for the different format following the four-day game with Glamorgan, so in terms of preparation it can be difficult. It is one extreme to the other in many ways, but that’s the challenge – the beauty if you like – of finding your way in professional cricket. We all have to adapt to it, but it is more of an examination of character to someone like me than to ‘Stevo’, say, who’s been coping with these sort of challenges for years.

“Hopefully I can find the right balance, and, together with the rest of the boys, get off to a solid start by slogging a few balls out of the park.”

Mark Pennell