New Kent Women’s captain Megan Belt is “starstruck” to be following in the footsteps of former skippers Tammy Beaumont and Charlotte Edwards.

Margate-born spinner Belt takes on the role permanently ahead of the new season.

The 26-year-old replaces England international Beaumont as captain. Beaumont led the Horses to multiple titles since the 2017 season but has stepped down due to the demands of regional, franchise and international cricket limiting her availability for her county.

Belt said: “Because Tammy hadn’t been around a little bit, I have stood in for the last year or so.

“But, officially, I got a message from Dave Smith (women’s and girls’ pathway manager) to ask if I would be captain. Obviously, I said ‘Yes!’

“I have been playing for Kent Women since I was 15 so, 11 years later, it’s great to be asked to be captain.

“When I first started, I was playing with the likes of Charlotte Edwards and Tammy Beaumont when she was a little bit younger.

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“To think I’ve taken over as captain, that’s just amazing and I’m a bit starstruck.”

Belt has learnt a lot from 33-year-old Beaumont, who moved beyond 100 international T20 games for England earlier this year.

“When I was younger at The Charles Dickens School, Tammy used to come and coach us when I first started playing,” Belt revealed. “I’ve learnt so much from her.

“Her style of doing things, I think it’s been an inspiration to me. I will take a lot of that into what I do.”

Ahead of the start of the Horses’ 2024 campaign against Middlesex Women on Sunday in a 50-over match, Belt outlined how she plans to take risks on the field when leading the side.

She said: “The difference for Kent Women’s team is that we have had a lot of players come in and out over the years.

“I’m a firm believer that having positive morale creates better cricket.

“If we have got young players coming in, I know what it feels like to be one of those young players, so I’ll just try and make it a positive environment for them to come into.

“Regarding the cricket, I think I’m quite a risk-reward sort of captain. I like to take risks in the field and be quite ambitious in the field to take wickets. I don’t really set a defensive field.

“I think wickets win you matches and, in cricket terms, that’s what I like to do.”