Sam Northeast

An all-round sports person right from his school days, Sam Northeast started his cricketing journey as a 13-year old cricketer, smashing 19 centuries in a term. He continued to perform for the Harrow and such was his talent that Kent sent their coaches to work with him. 

A right-handed middle-order batsman, Northeast was roped in by Kent from a very young age and by 2005, he was playing for their second XI. By 2008, Northeast was a part of the England U-19 squad and travelled to Malaysia for the 2008 Under-19 World Cup. 

Post the 2008 World Cup, his county career started to blossom and Northeast started to accumulate a string of good scores under tough conditions. By 2010, he solidified his place in the Kent county side and scored 688 runs at an average of 24.57. 

His breakout season came in 2012, when the Kent-born 880 runs in the second division at an astonishing average of 55, with three tons under his belt.

Northeast’s leadership abilities were also known to the people who have closely worked with him. By 2015, he was appointed as the new limited-overs skipper for Kent. Captaincy didn’t affect his batting as the batter amassed 1168 runs at an average of 46.72 in the County Championship. 

In 2018, the long-standing bond between Kent and Northeast finally came to an end. Kent wanted him to commit to a new deal with the club, but the batter decided to join Hampshire at the end of the 2017-18 season.

A legend of Kent county cricket, Northeast was a teenage prodigy who was spotted at a very young age. His desire to occupy the crease and score tons of runs was admired heavily by the Kent team management. 

(As of July 2021)