All-rounder Coles reflects on his 2010 season

By Mark Pennell

Twenty year-old Matt Coles (pictured) is making a name for himself with some eye- catching performances for the Kent first team.

Last month“s maiden championship half-century against Lancashire, coupled with his haul of 20-odd first-class wickets in his first full season has won plaudits from both supporters and media pundits.

Recalling his 50 in a losing cause against Lancashire, Coles said: “Farbs (Head coach Paul Farbrace) told me to just go out and enjoy it, so I just played each ball positively and as I saw it and it came off for me, which was really nice.

“It“s a shame I couldn“t have gone on to get a bigger total but it was nice that a few people came up afterwards to say well done. It“s good to hear that from the people watching the game.”

He added: “I feel I“ve come a long way since the Gloucestershire game last year to where I“m at now. I think I“ve show I can do it at this level and I“ve enjoyed every moment of it so far.

“If I can keep learning, keep progressing then you never know what can happen in this game.
The strapping county town lad from Maidstone does admit however, that the rigours of a first, full season are starting to takes its toll.

“Put it this way, it will be good to see the end of the season,” he quipped.

“It seems that the summer has been very long and my knees seem to have suffered the most. Other than that, the upper body still feels good.

“I was told in pre-season that I wouldn“t be playing too much first team cricket this year, that I“d probably be learning my trade in the seconds, so I set myself what I thought were high goals of getting 50 to 70 wickets in all forms of cricket, which would include a few Kent League games.

“As it is, I“ve almost got 50 wickets in all forms of first team cricket and it has been great for me to get so many opportunities.”

As for the winter, CoIes has that all mapped out too, he added: “I“m off to Australia to play some grade cricket over there as part of an ECB scholarship. It“s not finalised as yet, but it“ll either be at North Sydney or Perth.”