Sandwich Town Cricket Club have hailed “one of our own” after Kai Smith made his Royal London One-Day Cup debut.

Wicketkeeper Smith, 17, came into the Warwickshire team on Tuesday having been promoted from their Academy after he signed a 2022 Royal London Cup campaign rookie contract.

It was a winning start for Smith, too, as they beat Gloucestershire by eight wickets.

Upon signing last week, Smith, who is from Dubai and played for the United Arab Emirates in the men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup this year, told Warwickshire’s website: “I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait for the tournament to start.

“The World Cup was a fantastic experience and I’m so looking forward to this opportunity with the Bears.”

“He’s one of our own,” Sandwich Town CC wrote on Twitter.

“Best of luck to Kai and a huge congratulations from all involved at The Town!”

In May, Smith kept on both days, while he also scored 95 runs, during a successful weekend before he earned huge praise from Sandwich skipper Matthew Van Poppel as they beat Blackheath in the Kent League Premier Division and then beat Three Bridges a day later in the National Club Championship.

Van Poppel said: “He’s an unbelievable talent.

“He’s someone who is capable of being a pro. He’s only 17.

“His keeping was good two days in a row, I know he’s young but that’s not easy, and he did everything brilliantly. He’s a very exciting one that could end up anywhere.

“He’s up there talent-wise with all the players that we have had that have gone professional.

“He’s exciting.”

That’s high praise indeed from Van Poppel who worked closely with Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne while he played for Sandwich before his big break on to the international stage.