Delray Rawlins justified his inclusion on the England Under-19 tour to India, now the youngster is setting his sights on making a breakthrough at Sussex County Cricket Club this summer.

Rawlins is back home in Bermuda enjoying a break after the demanding month-long tour to the sub-continent where he scored an unbeaten hundred on his youth one-day international debut before following up with knocks of 46 and 96 in the second and third matches.

He scored 275 runs in five innings at an average of 68.75, before carrying that form into the two drawn Youth Tests, scoring 70 not out in the first match, and 140 and 49 in the second.

Bermudians followed his exploits late at night, including proud family members, as news quickly reached his club, who ran an article on their website.

Rawlins returns to England next weekend to prepare for preseason training with his club, knowing this could be a breakthrough season for him in county cricket after signing a one-year professional contract last summer.

“I haven’t been there for a month, so I don’t know how some of the boys are doing, but I definitely think I’ll get an opportunity in preseason with the first team,” said Rawlins who was accompanied on the tour by Jon Lewis, the Sussex bowling coach and former England seam bowler, who was also an assistant coach on tour.

“I’m just looking to go back and do really well, carry on the form from India, turn some more heads and hopefully to get a first-class debut.”

Rawlins had a dream start as an England youth player, striking 107 not out and claiming two for 46 with his left-arm spin.

In the next match he carried on with the bat, falling just shy of fifty when out leg-before, the cricket website ESPNcricinfo going on to sing his praises.

“Rawlins was the only batsman from both teams to persist with cross-batted strokes off the spinners, employing the sweep and reverse-sweep to fruition,” the article read. “He forced India’s spinners, who troubled the rest of the batting line-up, to overcompensate. He profited while waiting on the back foot, too, rocking back and muscling sixes straight down the ground.

“No other batsman in this series has come close to matching his power.”

Rawlins had obviously found India to his liking. “The conditions were good,” he said. “In Mumbai on the ODI half of the trip, the ball came on to the bat, which suited me for one-day cricket.

“In the Test series it was a bit more challenging as they knew how to play on spinning wickets. The [England] players were a good group of people to share five weeks with, the staff included, and I learnt a lot about how to get on with people.

“I exceeded the expectations of quite a few people back in England. Obviously, I backed myself to do well, so I was definitely pleased with my efforts. I also had our assistant coach who was the bowling coach for the under-19s seeing my performances. Who knows, maybe I’ll get a couple of opportunities to showcase my skills in preseason.”

Rawlins ended the tour with knocks of 140 and 49 in the second Youth Test, denied a 50 when he top-edged a sweep and was caught at deep mid-wicket. “I was disappointed not to get the fifty, but I got out doing something that had worked for me on the tour,” said Rawlins whose century stand with George Bartlett saw England past a tricky period on the last day.

“We did pretty well to negotiate that session; we were already two down, so it was definitely in the balance.”

It has all been happening quite quickly for Rawlins since signing a contract at Sussex. Just ten years ago he was playing in the mini Cup Match and dreaming of bigger things.

Rawlins first went to England at age 14, played in Cup Match two years later and is now on the verge of being the first Bermudian-born and raised player to play county cricket. Cup Match and county cup are taking a back seat as he explores bigger opportunities, like possibly playing Test cricket one day.

“When I broke into my senior team here, it was my bowling that got me in the team, so that’s why people saw me as someone who bowls more than he bats,” Rawlins said of his start in Bermuda cricket. “The Sussex coaches see me as a batter who bowls but I’m trying to become a genuine all-rounder because there aren’t many around who are three-point cricketers and who play in all three formats [Test, one-day and T20], so that is a goal of mine.

“I am quite blessed and thankful to go to India so young, but it was very nice for my development. I learnt a lot about myself and my game by being exposed to a different culture for a few weeks. It was definitely a good experience and if anyone else got that opportunity, I would tell them to go as well.”

Rawlins added: “I’m still eligible for the under-19s in the summer, but because there is an Under-19 World Cup in 2018, which I won’t be eligible for, I’m assuming they’ll pick a team to start preparing for that.

“I have committed my future to England and that’s what I want to do. I had goals at the start of the Young Lions programme and one of them for me was to play cricket for England. I managed to do that in India; now I want to push it farther.

“Now I want to make my mark on the country circuit, but I don’t want to be linked to just one format — I want to play all three formats. Definitely the tour to India, especially getting a hundred in the second Test, shows that I can play the ‘red ball’ game. They already know I can play the ‘white ball’ game.

“I’d love to play Twenty 20 as well; it’s a nice atmosphere. I just want to be on the park for Sussex this summer.”

Now that the tour is over, Rawlins’s family can now have restful nights. “I had a lot of contact with family,” he said. “My mom and dad said that I was keeping them up all night when I was batting, but I told them it wasn’t my fault.

“I’m quite pleased they were supporting me; my sisters as well. I also got a few messages on Twitter and from the boys back here. The schedule was pretty tough, so this break [back home] is useful for me.

“I just came back to put my feet up, see family and friends before I get stuck into what will be a long county season.

“I’ve left Cup Match behind. I only played 2014, but growing up that’s what a lot of young cricketers wanted to do — play Cup Match and county cup.

“Looking at the opportunities that I have now, it wasn’t a hard decision to say no. I’ve got a number of years of cricket in me and if retired from over there, maybe I’ll come back and play then. But in the next five years or so, Cup Match is behind me.

“Growing up and playing mini Cup Match in the summer camps, Colts Cup Match and finally Cup Match was a dream of mine. I have no regrets, sacrifices had to be made and I made quite a few, like leaving the island so young.

“To play a Test match at Lord’s would be the pinnacle for me now.”