He has looked equally secure on the back foot

"I worked on my game at Canterbury's Indoor School and when John Inverarity arrived as head coach, he encouraged us to be more expressive. Perhaps previously we'd been over-coached, but John said, 'Bat in the way that best suits you'."

However, the biggest change has come in Fulton's mental approach.

"My reputation was as a stoic opener, but this season, although I've tightened my defence slightly, I've become more expansive.

"I still play very tight, but when the ball's there to be hit I haven't hesitated from doing so, it's almost back to how I played as a teenager," he said.

"You get on a roll. I scored my first century in mid April against Cambridge University, then made another against Surrey at The Oval a few days later, along with Robert Key and Matthew Walker.

"Suddenly there was a buzz about the batting, Ed Smith started scoring runs too and the vicious circle of depression became a spiral of success."

I'd say that making a career best 208 not out against Somerset - followed by a century in the second innings as well - was my personal highlight

David Fulton

Fulton's bat has been raised regularly

Though widely tipped for international selection, Fulton missed out, so was he disappointed?

"I know I was close to it, but you have to applaud the selectors for their continuity.

"If I'd been picked then I think I'd have done a job, given my form, but I've only had one prolific season, and guys such as Usman Afzaal are rightly ahead of me in the queue.

"He'd only played one Test, then was left out when more established players returned from injury, so he deserves further chances.

"If I'd come in, he could rightly have felt aggrieved, I know I would in his position."

Fulton's contract is now up, but he is keen to stay at Kent, a feeling that is presumably mutual.

"I'm a Kent boy through and through and it would take a lot to make me leave.

"Hopefully we'll sort the contract out, but although I could yet be drafted in as Test cover, I want to keep my cricket ticking over and start next season a better player than I am now."