Kent sign South African Benjamin from Warwickshire

Chris Benjamin has signed a with Kent until 2027 after spending three years at Warwickshire

Warwickshire batter Chris Benjamin has signed for Kent on a three-year contract.

The 25-year-old, who can also keep wicket, moves on after three full seasons at Edgbaston.

Benjamin was born in South Africa but holds a British passport and qualifies as a domestic player, the club said.

"I'm excited to be joining Kent and having the opportunity to play regularly across multiple formats," he said.

"There is a young squad here that will only improve over time, and there's a clear plan for Kent to return to the highs of their recent successes in the future. It's an exciting project to be a part of."

Chris Benjamin first arrived at Edgbaston in 2021, making one appearance for Birmingham Bears before signing to play for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred

After impressing for the club's second XI, Benjamin was handed a rookie deal by the Bears - and made an immediate impact, hitting 60 on his professional T20 bow then another half-century against Glamorgan on his first One-Day Cup appearance, and a 127 on his County Championship debut for Warwickshire.

That earned him a deal with Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, where he averaged 37 as the Midlands franchise made it all the way to the final.

His form since has been sporadic. He has made 378 runs in 10 first-class matches, although he did hit 83 not out on his debut when he went out on loan to Durham late in the 2022 season.

He has also made 260 runs in 11 One-Day Cup games for the Bears and 753 runs in 47 T20 Blast games, having been part of the team who have failed in four successive quarter-finals, the last three at home and the first of them actually against Kent at Canterbury in August 2021.