Haggett showing all-round abilities

Calum Haggett underlined his long-term potential as an all-rounder with a superb century after pre-season niggles curtailed his bowling, writes Peter Burrowes.

The 27-year-old hit a swashbuckling hundred for a combined Kent/Northamptonshire second XI in a friendly match against Warwickshire at the County Ground, Beckenham last week.

His knock came off 114 balls with 11 fours and five sixes and helped set up a three-day victory with the second 50 of his innings came from just 22 balls.

The former England Under-19 international hit 66 of a 67-run last wicket stand and said: “It was a good wicket to bat on and I just went for it when Ivan Thomas joined me for the last wicket.

“The bowlers were not getting much help from the wicket so I chanced my arm and it paid off but I was not happy at running myself out. It was my fault and a disappointing end to my innings.”

Calum said the coaches have been encouraging the bowlers to try to improve their batting this season. “Hopefully this knock will help with my confidence if I get the chance in the first team. I want to be competent in all forms of the game whilst still keeping my bowling at a top level.

The all-rounder’s career for Kent has been stop-start since his debut six years ago with his highest first class score of 80 against Surrey at The Oval and best bowling figures are 4-15 against Derbyshire.

He made a big impact in last year’s T20 competition, taking eight wickets in seven matches with an economy rate of 7.66 was second only to overseas signing Adam Milne.

The former Somerset man said: “I think I have been picked more as a bowler in the past but hope this innings will start to show that I can bat as well but it does not improve off the back of one innings. There is a lot of work ahead to get to the level required for consistency.”

Calum was disappointed that he was not selected for the first team for the opening Specsavers County Championship matches against Gloucestershire and Durham but accepts that he is not at peak fitness yet.

Kent’s number 25 said: “I picked up an elbow injury on the FGS Plant tour of the West Indies. My elbow has been swollen and this has affected my early season bowling. It is clearing up now but I need to get more overs under my belt, and more runs, to be considered for selection.”