Ben Harmison feels he has proved a point to the Kent hierachy after a frustrating first half of the season and hopes he has earned an extended run in the first team.

The 29-year-old missed the start of the season due to a knee injury sustained last autumn but in just his third Championship appearance of the season earlier this month, Harmison made 123 in Kent’s big win against Essex at Tunbridge Wells - just two runs short of his career-best score.

Harmison - who is in his fourth season at the club - hopes to continue that form when Northants visit Canterbury in LV= County Championship Division 2 from Tuesday.

He admitted: “It’s been a frustrating year with injuries and other things. It was good to get back and score some runs. I was due a score like that. The previous game against Surrey I got in twice and was disappointed I didn’t go on. I felt in good form so it was nice to go on and get the big hundred.

“It’s been a frustrating time, from picking up an injury last year and then we found out in pre-season it was a lot worse than we thought. I had to sit out three months but since I’ve been back I feel good.”

Harmison made his return in the 2nd XI in May, but despite amassing a superb 160 against Surrey’s second string at the Mote, he had to wait until the tour game against Australia a month later for a first team recall, and it was July before he was named in the Championship side.

He admitted: “After I got that score I thought ‘that’s it, I’ll be back in’ but the captain and coach obviously wanted to stick with the homegrown, young lads and give them a chance.

“I was frustrated that I wasn’t back in, I felt I’ve done well for the club the last couple of years, batting at five. We were going through a bit of a sticky patch and I thought I could have done well for them.

“It was a frustrating month or so, having to wait, but I’d like to think I’ve proved a point now and hopefully I can get a good run in the team.”

Harmison admitted the two-week break between four-day games ‘carries on the frustration,’ but added: “It gives you something to work for, to get your head down and work towards the next Championship game, hopefully get a big score there and it’ll be worth the wait.”

He also insisted he has a role to play in one-day cricket, saying: “I’m not really happy to be pegged as just a Championship player. I thought I did alright in the one-day games last year when I got the chance.

“I think I have got a role to play in the team fielding and batting-wise. I think I have got something to offer, but I have just got to keep scoring runs and knocking on the door and hopefully they’ll answer it soon.”