Kent have secured the signing of wicketkeeper-batter Chris Benjamin from Warwickshire on a three-year contract. The 25-year-old gained attention during the 2021 edition of The Hundred when he was drafted as a replacement player. Despite having played only one senior T20 match for Birmingham Bears, Benjamin made an immediate impact, scoring 24 off 15 balls to help Birmingham Phoenix to victory. Over the next three seasons, he became a regular feature in the competition.
Benjamin also impressed on his first-class debut for Warwickshire, scoring a century. However, his opportunities in the longer format were limited, as he only made 10 appearances, averaging 22.23. His move to Kent strengthens the club’s wicketkeeping options following the departures of Ollie Robinson and Jordan Cox in recent seasons, and with Sam Billings now focusing on white-ball cricket. Harry Finch was Kent’s primary wicketkeeper in the Championship this summer.
Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, expressed excitement about Benjamin’s signing, saying, “We’re thrilled to sign a player of Chris’ talent on a long-term contract.” He is still a young player with significant potential, and Kent will be a great place for him to develop.”
Benjamin hails from South Africa but holds a British passport through his father. He has played in the UK since 2018. He moved to the UK to pursue his studies.
Benjamin shared his enthusiasm about joining Kent, saying, “I’m excited to play regularly across formats with a young squad that will only get better. Kent has a clear plan to return to recent successes, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”
Kent aims to bounce back after a tough season, facing relegation from Division One in the County Championship. They also finished last in the Vitality Blast’s South Group.
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