Batsman Alex Blake is looking to secure a spot in Kent’s four-day side after signing a new contract with the club last year.

The Farnborough-born batsman has made himself one of Kent’s key men in limited overs cricket in recent years, with a series of match-winning performances in the middle order.

And now, having signed a new contract last September, the 27-year-old is keen to claim his place in Kent’s County Championship team moving forward.

There was speculation of Blake moving to Sussex prior to his signing of the new contract, but with his future at Canterbury now secured, he is looking to make a place in the team his own in all formats.

“If I do get a chance, then I need to take it with both hands to try and earn a spot for the County Championship”, Blake told KSN at the club’s annual press day earlier this week.

“Obviously I’ve done alright in the shorter formats over the last few years, and not really played any four-day cricket. For me, it’s still a goal of mine to play the longer format – I always want to play in all formats if I can.

“If I do get a chance, I’ll be trying hard to clinch a spot.”

Blake also pressed home his desire to stay at Kent, rather than moving elsewhere, and said that once a new contract had been offered by the club, he had no hesitation in signing back on.

“I was always hoping to stay at Kent. This is where I grew up playing cricket, I was on the Academy from day one when it started. I live in Kent, and have a big passion for Kent”, he said

“There were rumours of interest, but when Kent said that they were going to offer me a new contract, I didn’t hesitate in accepting that.”

Blake proved to be a match-winner for Kent on a number of occasions last year, starring in both the NatWest T20 Blast, where he scored 304 runs at an average of 38, and the Royal London One-Day Cup, where he notched a further 203, averaging more than 50.

“I think over the last couple of years I really feel like I have bedded in to that one-day side and found a role there in the middle order”, Blake said.

“Hopefully now I can be seen as one of the key players and the senior players in that side, and I can keep going from strength to strength this season as well.”

Photograph courtesy of Sarah Ansell Photography