Tredwell: Benefit year a tribute to all my coaches and teammates
Saturday 13th August 2016
As he approaches his 500th appearance across the county formats and having won 74 international caps with England James Tredwell has been named as Kent’s popular and deserved beneficiary for 2017.
The 34-year-old off-spinner and former club captain, who will reap the rewards of a successful first-class career that started in 2001, is tremendously proud that the club has bestowed the honour on him for next summer.
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He said: “I’ve been at the club for a good number of years now and really you just get on with your job and never think about such things. But, now that the day is here, receiving a Kent benefit is a hugely proud moment for me.
“The short spell on loan at Sussex last year ultimately enabled me to get back into the Kent first team, so for that alone I’m grateful to them. And sure, there have been a few ups and down with Kent along the way, but a benefit is the county’s way of honouring someone like me who has come up through the system.
“I’ve played all the way through since Kent Under-11s so to be recognised with a benefit in 2017 is a proud moment for sure.”
Tredwell, who has taken more than 400 first-class wickets and has won two England Test caps, added: “Playing for Kent has been great and I’ve been lucky enough to go on and captain the county and England.
"To toss the coin for England ticked the last box in all of the boyhood dreams I ever had, so I’m tremendously proud of what I’ve achieved for Kent and England.
“I’ve got Min Patel, another former Kent and England spin bowler, as my benefit chairman and we’ll try and come up with a few different things to set my year apart from recent benefit seasons.
“It’s a shame my father won’t be around to share in it, he passed away in April having played a big role in introducing me to the game, but I see my benefit as small tribute to all the coaches and team-mates who touched my life and my playing career down the years, so the benefit year will be a way of thanking them all of them too.”