Stevens century serves reminder of timeless merits

Kent 346 for 4 (Stevens 121*, Billings 86*) lead Gloucestershire 221 by 125 runs
Scorecard

For the professional, this is the most stressful time of the year. With every other press release a "thanks but no thanks" to a player deemed unworthy of further employment, the reminder to observers is a stark one. For all the love in the game, this is when careers and dreams are taken out the back and laid to rest. So today at Bristol, as Gloucestershire toiled amid the weight of Kent's middle order, who finished day two with a 125-run first innings lead, with six wickets still in hand, some light shone through the August darkness.

Darren Stevens, at 40 years of age, secured his first hundred of a demanding season which could well be his last for Kent. His deal is set to expire at the end of the year and, as of yet, Stevens has yet to see anything resembling a new contract and is keen to sort something soon. Perhaps the most surprising element in this period is that he has had to speak openly about his situation. Usually his performances do the brunt of the negotiations for him.

But this year, things have not come as easy. Going into this match, he had scored only 365 runs and taken 26 wickets in the Championship. As ever with a player being in the latter years of his career, he now has to convince the powers-that-be that this is simply a dip in form rather than a terminal decline. In an interview with BBC Radio Kent, he spoke of his belief that he still has the physical capacity to cope at this level. He even relayed a conversation he had with physios at the club who assured him that, if he looked after himself, he could eke out another two years. All he wants is one more.

There is a nobleness to Stevens and the 12 seasons he has spent at Kent so far. Even then, there's a savagery that underpins it all, allowing him to fall neatly in the intersection of the venn diagram of "stalwart" and "cult hero". Rarely do the two intertwine as neatly as they do when discussing Stevens. He is the senior pro and the thrill giver; the wily old head and the untameable showstopper. He lives long in the memories of his enemies. Essex fans are sick of the sight of him, convinced he saves his best work for their "derby" clashes with Kent. His previous championship hundred came against them in June 2014.

Perhaps the only regret he may have is that his spectacular feats have come solely within the confines of county cricket. Much of his batting has played out in front of sparse crowds unable the muster the ovation and awe that he deserves. It can at times feel like Stevens is operating in a manner too thrilling for such mundane settings, as if he's popping out in a tank to pick up some fags from the off-licence.

Another selling point Stevens was keen to push was his desire to help out the younger members of the team, who are starting to realise their potential. There is every chance that, if any playing deal were to present itself, it may also feature a coaching element, much like Glenn Chapple (Lancashire) and Vikram Solanki (Surrey) took on as their playing careers wound down.

It was fitting, then, that Stevens put on his latest masterpiece with Sam Billings at the other end. Billings, one of the poster boys for this very un-English awakening in English batting, where hand-eye and wrists are king and queen, has often spoken of Stevens' influence on his career. Even now, with Billings on his way to becoming a global T20 superstar, he talks of Stevens' ball-striking ability with the adulation of a kid hanging around the player's balcony for a selfie. Their currently unbeaten partnership of 205 for the fifth wicket has come at a rate of five an over, from a potentially precarious starting point of 140 for 4.

Having trailed Billings by some distance, as the youngster's exuberance allowed him a sedate start, with just six from his first 24 balls, Stevens stirred upon entering the forties. He reached 52 off his 70th delivery, before another boundary from the 71st took him level with Billings, for the first time. From then on, master and apprentice traded blows, as Gloucestershire were left powerless to stop the one-upmanship playing out in front of them. Every Stevens drive through extra cover was matched by a Billings sweep - orthodox and reverse - as Gareth Roderick did what he could to stem the run flow.

Once Stevens was able to negotiate most of the strike, he made his way to 93. The manner in which he would then bring up his hundred was a nod to both sides of the Stevens coin.

Some at the Bristol County Ground, who had already decided he would try and get there with a big shot, wondered which stand he'd pepper to bring up three figures. Even the Gloucestershire fielders seemed to brace themselves for the big finish. Instead, Stevens went early, catching the field unaware, who had yet to be deployed in key areas. A glorious pick-up over long on off Jack Taylor took him to 99 The field did not bother converging for the one, which was taken into the leg side - Stevens squeezing the life out of his right fist as he completed the single.

"To be honest, it's been a bit of a nightmare really," he admitted at stumps. "It was nice to get the 30th of my career, too. I've been waiting for about two and a half years for that."

In the short-term, he reckons that Kent need to bat half of tomorrow, further strengthening their position, before the push for the final 10 wickets begins. For now, that is what concerns him.