Jack Leaning is ready to make more records in 2021 with Kent

Kent batsman Jack Leaning says he’s hoping to kick on with his new club in 2021 and build on the performances he showed fans last season.

The 27-year-old right-handed batsman joined Kent at the end of 2019 from Yorkshire, though he couldn’t make his debut for his new club until August due to the Covid-19 pandemic delaying the start of the campaign.

That didn’t stop him making an instant impact on the field though, as in just his second match for Kent he hit an unbeaten 220 against Sussex in the Bob Willis Trophy.

The knock was Leaning’s first century for three seasons and the first double-ton of his career. It also formed part of a record Kent partnership of 423 runs, with Jordan Cox at the other end of the crease hitting an unbeaten 238.

“I knew we were probably going to be up there in a few records,” said Leaning, who made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 2013 against Surrey.

“But it wasn’t until that evening and the next day that I went on social media, spoke to a few of the guys, and found out that we’d actually set the highest partnership record.

“I was quite keen to make an impression early on in my Kent career, but I didn’t think it would be as sizeable as that one!”

Following his record-breaking innings Leaning kicked on for his new club with some strong outings in the Vitality Blast as Kent finished third in the South Group.

The Bristol-born batsman wasn’t able to show off his skills in the County Championship (the competition was suspended for 2020), but he said he was gearing up for an important season across all three formats this year.

“Last season was good for me but it was almost like a little bit of a taster,” added Leaning.

“We got going and then it felt like it was all over again.

“Hopefully this year we can get a full season in, and I can get to play in all three formats, have another good year and build on what I’ve started.”

Until then Leaning is adjusting to life in Kent - where he and his family moved to last year prior to the first lockdown.

Aside from keeping fit - he said there’s “probably mot a road in four square miles of my house that I haven’t run down” - Leaning said he’d been busying himself in lockdown by watching Channel Four's coverage of England’s Test series in India, which he says is the perfect way to get more people into the sport and spark a national interest in it.

“I think it’s brilliant because it means that more people are going to be watching out game,” said the batsman.

“The first real test series that I remember watching probably was the 2005 Ashes that was also on Channel Four back in the day.

“I could still go back and watch that series now - it still gets goosebumps going up the back of my neck.

“That’s really what inspired me when I was growing up - wanting to play for England and do the same things as these guys are doing on TV.

“Hopefully more kids and families will be able to watch the sport that I love and it will have the same impact on them as it had on me when I was younger.”

Canterbury, Kent

Main image - Jack Leaning during his time at Yorkshire (Credit: Simon Pendrigh)