Megan Belt completes new Kent Captaincy structure
Thursday 7th March 2024
News of Megan Belt’s appointment as Kent Women skipper this week means that all of Kent’s Captains for the 2024 season are now in place.
Three of the four captains of Kent are graduates of the Kent Cricket Talent Pathway.
Club Captain: Daniel Bell-Drummond
Back in October 2023, Daniel Bell-Drummond was appointed as the 36th Men’s Captain of Kent Cricket.
A product of the Kent Cricket Academy, the 30-year-old has amassed 369 appearances for the county to-date across a 12-year county career so far, scoring over 15,000 runs and having the accolade of being one of six male cricketers to have scored a century in all three formats of the game for Kent.
The right-hander has also captained the side across all formats on 42 occasions in the past four seasons, with a 47%-win percentage overall so far (including draws & no results). He is officially the 36th Club Captain and will skipper Kent in first-class competition.
2023 was a standout season for the opening batter that is also known for his part-time medium-pace bowling. He backed up his second career T20 hundred, 111 against Middlesex at Canterbury, by becoming Kent’s third triple centurion less than a week later.
On being appointed as Club Captain, Bell-Drummond said: “It’s an absolute honour and privilege to be the Club Captain of Kent Cricket.
“I’ve been a Kent cricketer since I was seven years old; I love the Club.
“It’s now my job, alongside the rest of the playing squad, to take Kent Cricket forward into a new season as Captain and it’s a challenge that I’m looking forward to.
“To the Kent Members and supporters – we’ll both be experiencing good times and I’m sure some tough times, but we will be going through it all together.
“We’ll be looking to hit the ground running for 2024.”
Kent Women Captain: Megan Belt
Megan Belt is Kent Women’s new Captain, ahead of the start of an exciting new season for the Horses across both formats of the women’s county game.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a storied ten-year Kent career to-date after making her debut for Kent Women aged 16 in May 2013.
She has made over 100 appearances for the Horses since, taking over 152 wickets at an average of just 16.40 with her right-arm off-spin.
In her time as a Kent cricketer so far, Margate-born Belt has won three Women’s County Championships, two Women’s National T20 Cups, one Women’s London Championship & two Regional T20 titles. She was awarded Kent Women Cap no. 49 in December 2020 in appreciation of her service to-date for the Horses.
Belt replaces Tammy Beaumont as captain, who led the Horses to multiple titles since the 2017 season, who has stepped down due to the demands of regional, franchise & international cricket limiting her availability for her county.
On becoming Kent captain, Belt said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be the new captain of Kent Women. I’ve loved my time as a Kent Cricketer until now.
“I have so many great memories of winning titles with my county – it’s my job now to lead this young, hungry squad to add more success for the Horses.
“Tammy was a fantastic skipper and I hope that I can lead as well as she has. Like her, I’m there to guide the next generation of Kent Women cricketers from our excellent Talent Pathway into the first-team, and hopefully on to regional and franchise level.”
T20 Captain: Sam Billings
At the same time as Bell-Drummond’s appointment, the Club confirmed that Sam Billings has been appointed as T20 Captain of the Kent Spitfires.
Kent’s victorious 2021 Vitality Blast-winning skipper, Billings stepped down as Club Captain following the conclusion of the 2023 season.
The 32-year-old has travelled the world plying his trade in T20 cricket and has won some of the biggest prizes in that format, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Lahore Qalandars.
He also captained Oval Invincibles Men to their first Hundred title in 2023.
In all, the Kent Cricket Academy graduate has captained Kent Men on 49 occasions in T20 cricket since 2018, averaging 28.36 with the bat and enacting 40 dismissals.
On being named as Kent Men’s T20 captain, Billings said: “I’m delighted to remain as the T20 captain of the Kent Spitfires – it’s a role that I have loved doing and as I have previously said, it’s always an honour to captain any Kent side.
“’DBD’ will be an outstanding Club Captain and it’ll be great to work in partnership for the Vitality Blast – he has always been one of the influential characters in the playing squad. His deep passion for the Club and calm demeanour will no doubt elevate this squad further.
“I believe we have a fantastic foundation to challenge for the Vitality Blast trophy again. Thank you again for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you all back at The Spitfire Ground next season.”
One-Day Captain & Club Vice-Captain: Jack Leaning
In January, the Club confirmed that Jack Leaning has been appointed as the Club’s official Men’s Vice Captain, deputising to Club Captain Daniel Bell-Drummond in red-ball competition and to T20 skipper Sam Billings during the Vitality Blast.
Leaning will also be the Kent Spitfires’ Captain throughout the 2024 Metro Bank One Day Cup, subject to his availability.
On signing a new contract until at least the end of 2026 & becoming Vice Captain, Leaning said: “I’m extremely excited to see what the future holds at Kent Cricket and I was quick to make sure that I could commit to as many years as I could here going forward.
“I now feel right at home here – I’ve loved every second of my four seasons as a Spitfire so far, and I’m already looking forward to getting underway for 2024 and beyond.
“Together we’re an extremely ambitious Club and want to remain right up there with the Test-hosting counties. I’m honoured to be Kent’s new Vice Captain and it’s a position that I’m ready to throw myself completely into.”
2024 Memberships are still available – be a part of Kent Cricket and guarantee your place at Kent’s home matches this season, even if tickets are sold out!
Buy Membership now
Entry to all Kent Women matches is also FREE to all Kent Members & ticket bundle holders.
An unmissable evening of cricket is coming to Canterbury in the Summer of 2024, and tickets are now on sale to see England’s heroes take on the White Ferns of New Zealand in Canterbury, just an hour’s journey from the capital.
It is only the second time that Canterbury has hosted a Women’s International T20 match in its long history, and will be another boost for the continued growth of women’s cricket in Kent.
Tickets for this match are now on general sale at Early Bird prices – don’t miss out on saving money & being there to witness England in T20 action:
Buy tickets now
England Women vs. New Zealand at The Spitfire Ground in July is not included in 2024 Memberships or Six Pack ticket bundles. Members, Six Pack & Six Pack Plus holders should purchase tickets from the Club website.
