New Kent captain Daniel Bell-Drummond on the prospect of starting the 2024 County Championship Division 1 campaign against old team-mate Sean Dickson as Somerset visit Canterbury

There could be a familiar face in the opposition team as Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond begins his tenure as club captain.

Bell-Drummond is set to lead Kent out for their first County Championship Division 1 match of the season against Somerset in Canterbury from Friday.

Another experienced batsman, Sean Dickson, is among those who could be in the away dressing room.

South African Dickson, with Kent from 2015 until 2019, is close friends with Bell-Drummond - and was among the first to congratulate Bell-Drummond after his record-breaking century against Northamptonshire last June.

Dickson was the last Kent men’s player to score a first-class triple ton prior to Bell-Drummond, making 318 in County Championship Division 1, also against Northamptonshire, at Beckenham in 2017.

“It would be good to play him,” Bell-Drummond said. “I haven’t actually played against him!

“Either he’s been injured or I’ve been injured since (Dickson left Kent), so fingers crossed that we’re both there.

“He’s a very good player. It’s always great to catch-up with old faces, but once we step across the white line we will be trying to get him out as early as possible.”

Kent’s red-ball match against Somerset cannot come around soon enough for Bell-Drummond.

“I cannot wait,” he said. “It’s been a long winter - a very wet one, as well. The guys are raring to go, especially myself. It’s a fresh start.

“There’s a lot of positivity coming into the season, a lot to build on, and some great new signings. I’m looking forward to the two overseas guys (Xavier Bartlett and Wes Agar) getting here.

“But there’s a lot of local talent, as well. A lot of good, young players who, hopefully, can kick on this year - Joey Evison, Tawanda Muyeye and Jaydn Denly, who has just