Chris Benjamin Signs Three-Year Deal with Kent
Benjamin, 25, gained attention in 2021 when he joined The Hundred as a replacement player, despite having played just one senior T20 match for Birmingham Bears. He made an impactful debut, scoring 24 runs off 15 balls to help Birmingham Phoenix secure a win, and he went on to play regularly in the tournament’s first three seasons.
Success in First-Class Debut but Limited Opportunities
Benjamin also scored a century on his first-class debut for Warwickshire, but he had limited chances in the longer form of the game, making 10 appearances with an average of 22.23.
His addition to Kent will provide more options in the wicketkeeping department. Kent lost Ollie Robinson and Jordan Cox over the past two seasons, while Sam Billings signed a white-ball contract. This summer, Harry Finch has been keeping wickets for Kent in Championship matches.
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Kent Excited About Benjamin’s Potential
“We’re very happy to bring a player with Chris’ abilities to Kent on a long-term deal,” said Simon Cook, Kent’s director of cricket. “He is still young and has a lot of room to grow, and we’re excited for him to do that here at Kent.“
Benjamin, who was born in South Africa, has a British passport through his father and has been playing in the UK since moving there for his studies in 2018.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Kent and to have the chance to play across different formats,” Benjamin said. “The squad is young and has a lot of potential, and there’s a clear plan for Kent to get back to its recent achievements. It’s exciting to be part of this journey.“
Kent’s Recent Struggles
Kent were relegated from the County Championship earlier this month, finishing at the bottom of Division One. They also ended last in the South Group of the Vitality Blast and seventh in Group A of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
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