Where now for Northeast as he seeks international opportunity

 The reason Kent had to appoint a new captain last week is down to the fact Sam Northeast - the skipper of the previous two seasons (arguably three, he stood in for much of 2015 with Robert Key unavailable) - has shown a reluctance to commit long-term to Kent and so compromised his role as the leader of the club.

Northeast is now 28 years old and is widely acknowledged as one of the finest operators on the county circuit with willow in hand and can rightly consider himself unfortunate not to have represented the national side in any format as yet. Recent recognition has finally come in the
form of a call-up to the England Lions squad for the one-day leg of the Caribbean tour in March. Many at Canterbury would say 'not before time'. He has amassed over 1,000 runs in each of the last three Championship seasons at very healthy averages.

Northeast was appointed captain of the county back in September 2015, only a few months after he did commit to a long-term deal at Canterbury, but with hopes of international cricket dissipating,
his appetite for remaining at his boyhood club appears to have diminished. Northeast
has been given acceptance, albeit reluctantly, from the Kent management to now speak to other clubs. It could spark a healthy scramble amongst a number of counties for the player's signature, one of the more significant in recent times.

It seems likely he will have his heart set on a Division One club. In order to build an England career it's generally considered top division exposure enhances credentials and after seasons of scoring runs
in Division Two now may be the right time to test that theory. With certain selections at national level not requiring a heavy load of runs to substantiate their cause, Northeast will no doubt be hoping he ticks enough of the right criteria boxes to edge ahead of the likes of James Vince.

There is a very real chance he could be in the same line-up as Vince when the County Championship season gets underway on April 13. Hampshire have already thrown their name into the hat and I'm sure enticing packages, deal clinching promises and convincing visions for the future will at the very least be in the developmental stage as I type. Hampshire will expect to have to stave off some stern competition from a number of clubs hoping to convince the talented batsman to join their own ambitious club.

So who could be challenging Hampshire for Sam Northeast ? I'd expect Nottinghamshire to make enquiries having missed out on Keaton Jennings to Lancashire; Northeast would make a very good alternative for a side that lost Brendan Taylor, Greg Smith and Michael Lumb last season. They have
already filled one of the batting vacancies when they lured the experienced opener Chris Nash from Sussex but ideally they'd hope to add a bit more batting depth.

I'd imagine he's the kind of player that is attractive to Surrey and could be seen as the missing piece in Surrey's top order. Jason Roy invariably misses the start of the season due to IPL commitments and this could be the summer that Ben Foakes joins Mark Stoneman (should he perform in New Zealand) in the England side; all this resulting in a serious weakening of Surrey's batting resources.

Yorkshire's batting was rescued only by Gary Ballance's impeccable form in 2017, will they simply opt to retain the same faces in the hope last year was an anomaly and they turn up this year and show their true colours, or would a fresh face re-focus many of the current squad and edge Yorkshire back up the table into more familiar territory?

The best time to strengthen a squad is when you're on top yet I can't see Essex pushing the boat out and offering Northeast a short trip to Chelmsford. With Alastair Cook likely to be available for a number of games and Tom Westley currently out of favour with England and having a point to
prove, the champions will trust their current playing staff to get the runs on the board.

If you're looking for a club outside the top division to try and tempt the Kent star, then Jason Gillespie's Sussex could be that team. Sussex are expected to be serious contenders under the Australian this year and it would be a real coup if Gillespie could persuade Northeast to remain in Division Two for another season with the priority objective of getting Sussex back to the top table ?

Wherever Sam Northeast decides to pitch up with his gear this season one county will fancy they've got themselves a top quality player with a guarantee of runs, at least until England belatedly come calling.