Chris Benjamin Joins Kent on Three-Year Deal

Kent has secured the signing of wicketkeeper-batter Chris Benjamin from Warwickshire on a three-year contract, adding valuable depth to their squad. 

Benjamin, 25, first gained attention during the 2021 Hundred when he was brought in as a replacement player after having played only one senior T20 match for Birmingham Bears. His impactful 24 off 15 balls helped Birmingham Phoenix secure victory, and he became a regular feature throughout the tournament’s first three seasons.

In addition to his T20 success, Benjamin impressed with a century on his first-class debut for Warwickshire. However, opportunities in the longer format were limited, as he appeared in just 10 matches, averaging 22.23 runs.

With the departures of wicketkeepers Ollie Robinson and Jordan Cox in recent seasons, and Sam Billings now focused on white-ball cricket, Benjamin’s arrival strengthens Kent’s wicketkeeping options. Harry Finch had been taking on the role in the Championship this summer.

Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, expressed his excitement about the signing, noting that Benjamin brings plenty of talent and potential to the team. Cook said that the club was thrilled to be the place where Benjamin could continue to develop and improve his game.

Despite being born in South Africa, Benjamin holds a British passport through his father and has played in the UK since moving there to study in 2018.

Benjamin himself is enthusiastic about his new challenge with Kent, looking forward to contributing across various formats. He noted that Kent has a young squad that is on an upward trajectory and that he is eager to be part of the club's plans to return to recent levels of success.

Kent faced a difficult season, having been relegated from Division One in the County Championship and finishing last in both the Vitality Blast’s South Group and seventh in Group A of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.