Jordan Cox has become the latest member of Kent's academy to be given a professional contract with the club.

The 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who plays in the Kent League for Sandwich Town, has signed a three-year deal.

Cox played 10 times for Sandwich in the Premier Division this summer, scoring 499 runs at an average of 62.38 as they finished fifth.

He also appeared regularly for Kent 2nds and is part of the England under-19s squad which will travel to India for a training camp this winter followed by a series against Bangladesh.

Cox, who won the John Aitken Gray Trophy as the best academy scholar this year, said: “I’m honoured to have the opportunity to join the club at 17 years of age, it really is a dream come true.

“Having been here since the age of 10 going up through the Academy, to sign my first professional contract is unbelievable and hopefully will be the start of something special.”

Kent Cricket chief executive officer Ben Green added: “Jordan’s a talented young cricketer. He’s very much someone with the future in mind and hopefully he’ll develop in to an outstanding cricketer for us.

“We see him as someone for the future and we’re building up a group of really promising young players that we’ll see the best of in coming years and we wish him every success.”