Delray Rawlins has described his breakthrough season at Sussex as a “massive learning curve” and is now keen to further his development during a spell Down Under with Sydney Cricket Club.

The Bermudian all-rounder made his first-class debut for Sussex against Kent on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship second division season and made three further appearances for the club at that level.

“It’s been a massive learning curve, however one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette. “The highlight of my season would be playing against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, my second first-class match, playing a star-studded line-up.”

The 20-year-old was thrown in at the deep end in April against a Nottinghamshire team boasting England Test players Stuart Broad and Alex Hales, and James Pattinson, who last played Test cricket for Australia in February 2016.

Rawlins scored four runs in two visits to the crease at No 3 in a match that Nottinghamshire won by an innings and 88 runs. In June, he was promoted up the order to opener against Gloucestershire but was dropped after scoring seven and 24 in a draw.

“One of the biggest obstacles would have been getting dropped and not performing well enough to get back into the team quicker,” he said.

Rawlins had another chance to prove himself in the season finale against Nottinghamshire last week, scoring a maiden fifty in the championship and sharing in a 124-run, sixth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper-batsman Michael Burgess.

“It was really nice to get the opportunity to play again this year and I wanted to try and make it count,” said Rawlins, who also helped Sussex win the Second XI Twenty20 tournament.

Before the match, Rawlins signed a new deal, keeping him there at least until the end of 2019. It was the second time in six months he was offered a new contract. He had his initial one-year deal extended in March.

Rawlins will travel to Australia next month to play for Sydney CC in the New South Wales Premier competition.

“I’ll be down there for about six months at Sydney Cricket Club and just looking forward to the experience,” said Rawlins, who also bowls left-arm spin. “I’ve never been to Australia before, but I’ve heard very good things about it. It will be an opportunity to keep developing my bowling and keep developing the batting side of things facing tough opposition and see where my game is at over that side of the world.”

Rawlins toured India with England Under-19 in January and February. The Bermudian scored an unbeaten hundred on his youth one-day international debut before scoring 46 and 96 in the second and third matches.

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