Ageless Cricketer Darren Stevens buzzing Ahead Of 26th Season

Kent cricketer Darren Stevens made his debut in first-class cricket earlier than Tony Blair turned British prime minister. 1 / 4 of a century later he reveals no indicators of slowing down

Canterbury (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – sixth Apr, 2022 ) :Kent cricketer Darren Stevens made his debut in first-class cricket earlier than Tony Blair turned British prime minister. 1 / 4 of a century later he reveals no indicators of slowing down.

Stevens, 46 later this month, is bouncily optimistic as he prepares for the beginning of his 26th season within the English county sport on Thursday, regardless of icy spring temperatures and snow flurries.

The all-rounder, who started his profession with Leicestershire in 1997, has loved a few of his best moments lately with each bat and ball.

He hit a career-best 237 towards Yorkshire in 2019 and the next season took 29 wickets at an attention grabbing common of simply over 15.5 within the inaugural Bob Willis Trophy.

Cricketing “bible” Wisden recognised his feats in 2021, naming him as considered one of its cricketers of the yr.

The ageless Stevens confirmed he had misplaced none of his magic contact final yr — smashing 15 sixes in a barnstorming innings of 190 and later within the season serving to Kent win the Twenty20 Blast for a second time.

So what motivates the Leicester-born participant, who narrowly missed out on profitable an England cap? “The game itself,” he tells AFP, sitting on a bench at Kent’s Canterbury residence floor devoted to his late father, Bob Stevens.

“It’s a beautiful game, it’s an amazing game. For us, we’re classed as entertainers so you put on a show. Who doesn’t love putting on a show? “I’m passionate in regards to the sport and I simply love batting and I like bowling.” Stevens enjoyed a successful stint with England’s second-tier Lions team in a 2010 triangular series against India A and West Indies A, averaging nearly 80 with the bat.

But he never received a full international cap whereas other players alongside him in that team, including Alastair Cook and Chris Woakes, went on to enjoy successful England careers.

“It’s irritating whenever you see lots of people which have performed or are taking part in,” he said. “It’s such as you mirror your self to their job and what they do and it’s kind of irritating however it’s what it’s.

” But Stevens’ sanguine approach belies a fierce competitive edge.

He had to fight his way back into Kent’s T20 plans after he was told he was surplus to requirements, proving his worth last year as they beat Somerset in the final.

Although he is a cult hero in the county game, Stevens’ name has also been invoked in the debate over the weak state of English cricket after the recent disastrous Ashes defeat against Australia.

Former captain Michael Vaughan argued that success for the 45-year-old illustrated a lack of competitive edge in the English county game.

But the all-rounder, who bowls right-arm medium pace, shrugs off the criticism.

“It does not hassle me,” he said. “He can have his opinion. Everyone can have their very own opinion. My job is to get wickets for Kent.” Stevens may have missed out on an international cap but he is certainly on the radar of the Australian internationals who have plied their trade in the English county game — they even set up a WhatsApp group called “Stevo’s gonna get ya”.

“It’s humorous. I performed golf with (Australian Test participant) Travis Head final yr.

“He’s a good mate and we were on the course and he showed me a text from one of the lads saying ‘Stevo’s going to get you, ha, ha’ and I got him (when playing against Sussex).” The evergreen all-rounder can not watch for the brand new season to start out, saying he’s “more buzzy” now than when he was a younger participant.

“As everybody says and as all the old pros that coach now when I go and play against teams and I have a good catch-up with them — all of them are ‘long-time retired mate, don’t do it’.” So how for much longer can he resist the march of Father Time?”I can see myself playing next year, because if I don’t think like that my body will shut down and I’ll probably finish tomorrow, so my mindset is I’m still ready to play next year,” he mentioned.

“In my mind there’s no reason why I should finish.”