After extending his stay at the club Alex Blake says he expects to face a battle with Fabian Cowdrey and Sam Billings for a place in the Kent side next season.

The 24-year-old batsman was awarded a contract for 2014, despite not making a LV= County Championship appearance this season and only having made five in 2012.

Blake, who has signed a new one-year deal, said: “It gives me a great opportunity to push on and push for a first team spot.

“I’m pleased the club have shown faith in me and want to repay that faith on the pitch.

“I was happy with my performances for the second team but I want to get an opportunity to show what I am capable of in the firsts.”

Blake added: “I met with (Kent chief executive) Jamie Clifford a couple of months ago and he was pretty positive about things and basically told me to keep pushing, keep scoring runs.

“I spoke with (coach) Jimmy Adams too and he said he was happy with what I’d been doing and wanted me to keep pressing my case.

“It’s all about weight of runs. If you’re scoring plenty week after week, then they can’t ignore you for too long.”

Blake made his first class debut in 2008, and despite making a 18 four-day appearances in 2010 and 2011 combined, his appearances have come more frequently in limited overs games.

He played all 11 of Kent’s t20 games this summer, although getting the nod just twice in Yorkshire Bank 40.

He said: “Fabian has pushed himself up the pecking order, coming into the firsts in the shorter-formats and doing well.

“He did pretty much what Sam Northeast did last year, scoring runs for the seconds and getting himself into the first team.

“That is the road a few of us have to be looking at. There are a few of us pushing to play, me, Fabian and Sam Billings.”

Blake will not be travelling to Australia to play this winter, instead taking up an extended work experience position with a firm in the City.