Following the end of the English domestic season, it’s common practice for professionals to head to the southern hemisphere for competitive cricket through the winter.
As well as keeping players in good touch through the winter months, Ben Kitt is one of the county’s younger prospects who has travelled in a bid to hone his game and press for his selection for Nottinghamshire’s senior side.
Taking 6-31 on his grade cricket debut for St George Cricket Club, he made quite a statement and the fast bowler is hoping to continue to impress through the season.
“I was really pleased with my start on arriving here, and to go on and win the T20 tournament was beyond my expectation,” he said.
“Going to Australia was a very last minute decision, I think the time between confirming my club and flying was 11 days. I hadn’t bowled in three weeks following the end of the season in Nottingham.
“I’m not here to try anything different, just enjoying my bowling and that’s paying off for me.”
Kitt’s debut will be one to remember, announcing his arrival in style. His side then went on to triumph in the Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup, winning the trophy at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Boasting players such as Australian internationals Moises Henriques and Trent Copeland in their ranks, Kitt is looking to use this exposure to his advantage.
“They have some really good bowlers here, Trent Copeland, Moises Henriques and Josh Hazlewood, they’re players I can learn a lot from,” he said.
“Trent played in the first match I was involved in. He’s a really nice guy, helped me settle in and gave me some really useful tips. I’m looking to watch them carefully, learn from them and see how far that can take me.
“The wickets I’m playing on at the moment have been good ones, pacy tracks that suit my bowling, but also later in the summer they’ll be a bit flatter and more challenging.
“I’ve already learnt that while my pace is good, I’ll need to be bowling a little straighter and more consistently.
“Every week I’ll be learning something and if I want to be breaking into Nottinghamshire’s team I’ll need to come back and press my case.”