Opening batsman Sam Northeast is relishing the opportunity of being vice captain of Kent for the 2014 season.

The 24 year old was announced as being part of the new captaincy structure that saw Rob Key return to lead the side for a second time with Northeast officially appointed to the number two role at Canterbury.

With much talk that Northeast is being lined up to take over the main role in the long term, Northeast told KSN how he is pleased to be vice captain for the time being and didn’t want to be considered to run the side just yet:

“I’m glad I’m not Kent captain and I will leave that responsibility to Keysey. It’s a nice role for me to learn, get a bit of experience and see if I want to do it in the future and if I am any good at it.”

“It’s an exciting challenge for both of us to hopefully bring forward some good talented youngsters and potentially set a few principles in place to really go forward in the next two or three years.”

With lots of exciting young prospects coming through the Kent system and knocking on the door for first team selection. Northeast is hoping plenty of them go on to have successful county careers, but believes some are more than capable of going on and playing international cricket:

“In general we want to raise the standard. With guys coming through we want them to not just play for Kent, but be the level where we want them to start knocking on England Lions doors and stuff.”

“If people are coming through then great and in two or three years then we have a group of players that can really challenge for titles or whatever.”

As for Northeast’s role, he will undoubtedly lead the side on some occasions with Key not expected to play all of the games throughout the forthcoming season and the opening batsman is hoping the new role will inspire him to better things on a personal level:

“My thoughts are to start learning and playing my best cricket and to score thousands of runs. I’ll leave all the nitty gritty up to Rob.”

“I’ll have an input as part of a cricket management group. We are all putting our input in to the future and our opinions of how we will take the culture forward and all sorts.”

“Jimmy (Adams) and Keysey are accountable for a lot so it will be up to them to define how things are going forward. If Keysey isn’t there, then I will have to stand up and it will be a good challenge.”

“It’s not a status thing. I want the club to be successful. I’m probably not going to have much fun working with Keysey this year, but we want to leave a legacy and do well in this coming year!”

There had been talk since the end of last season that former skipper James Tredwell was going to step aside from the role of captain and Northeast explained to KSN how the process worked once Key had been approached to return:

“I knew about the prospect of Treddy standing down and potentially Keysey taking over. I knew the vice captaincy was going to be up for grabs, but had no idea Keysey wanted me to do it.”

“I went away and thought about it and then met up with Keysey in London for some lunch and we agreed a way forward togather.”

Northeast is no stranger to leading out the side after skippering the side against South Africa in a tourist match, but believes the job will be more demanding if he is asked to do it on a more regular basis should Key be injured or rested:

“I have had a taste of it, but I am sure coming in and doing the job for one day is different to doing it for the whole season.”

“I have always come in and enjoyed it, enjoyed the tactical side of things. If Keysey doesn’t play in a few games, then it will be a good challenge to step and lead the team for a bit.”

With the extra responsibility, it can bring on any cricketer’s own game and Northeast is hoping 2014 will be a big year personally, as well as for Kent:

“Hopefully I can mature as a person and a player as well. Hopefully it can bring me on and spur me to become a really top player. Time will tell. I don’t see it as a hindrance, that’s for sure.”

“I still think I have got a lot to offer and a lot to improve. Come your late 20s you can find your best form. I didn’t have a great year last year, but I can bounce back and really push.”

With a vast amount of Kent cricketers away for the winter learning their games and getting valuable experience in foreign countries, Northeast told KSN he is looking to get away at some point, but things have changed now he has been given the vice captaincy:

“I will work with my game with Simon Willis and we’re talking about the chance of going to India for a bit, but we will see how the winter goes.”

“Things have probably changed a bit with me taking on the vice captaincy, but I still need to make sure I am working on my own game as well”