by Alex Hoad

Kent batsman Sam Northeast says he would "love to lead the county one day" but is currently focused on scoring enough runs to get him into international contention this season.

The 23-year-old is on a one-year contract at the St Lawrence Ground and while he backs the appointment of James Tredwell as the new skipper following Rob Key’s decision to step down after seven years at the helm, Northeast admitted it was a role he’d relish in the future.

He said: "I am a little bit disappointed that Rob stepped down as he has done a great job over several years. It came as sort of a surprise but now he can concentrate on getting back to scoring 1,000-plus runs a season and James is definitely the right man for the job at the moment."

He added: "In the future, at some point, it’s something I’d be interested in but at the moment, my ambitions are not on that.

"At some stage, I would love to lead the county but it’s not my time at the moment.

"My aim for the season is scoring runs and getting in teams. I’d like to think I can cement a place near the top of the Kent order in all forms of the game.

"If all goes well, I’d like to think I could knock on the door of higher honours."

Speaking before flying out to Dubai on Tuesday to join the MCC team for a pre-season competition featuring Sussex, Warwickshire and Lancashire, Northeast added: "I’m looking forward to it.

"It is an interesting selection. It is certainly an honour but it doesn’t really mean anything in terms of other selections.

"I’ve not heard anything about any selectors looking at me but all I can do is focus on scoring some runs and see where that takes me."

He added: "I’m looking forward to playing alongside Rahul Dravid. I’ll try to get some advice from him and maybe try and persuade him to come back to Kent!"

Northeast spent just two weeks back in Kent after returning from a winter playing in Australia for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers.

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