Lloyd Fray, the Bermuda Cricket Board president, hailed the achievements of young cricketer Delray Rawlins this week.

Rawlins, 19, signed a professional contract with county club Sussex last month, making him the first home-grown Bermudian to secure such a deal with an English county club.

“We are very proud to have played a part in Delray’s development that has led to this historic moment for Bermuda cricket,” Fray said.

“We are always looking to refine and improve our pathways and Delray’s accomplishments validate the opportunities available.

“Delray has not only proven to be an outstanding natural talent, but has shown the dedication and commitment that is needed to succeed at the professional level of cricket in the UK.

“Delray may have been originally recognised as a left-arm spinner but he has proven to be a genuine all-rounder, highlighted by his recent unbeaten hundred for Sussex Second XI, and his scores on our recent tour to Toronto.

“I look forward to his continued progress and trust that his accomplishments will inspire many more boys and girls to chase their dreams to reach the top of our great sport.”

Rawlins is a product of the BCB development programme for which the board has consistently received awards from the International Cricket Council. Rawlins played youth league cricket from the under-13 level in 2007 up to the player development level.

He was a member of the BCB Academy programme as a youngster, and in addition to the national level coaching, Rawlins has gained significant international competition experience.

He has also toured St Kitts twice with the national under-13 team; represented Bermuda at under-15 level at the ICC regional competition; played in two consecutive Under-19 World Cup qualifiers; was selected to play for an Americas team in ICC junior tournaments on two occasions; and made his international debut for the senior team, aged 15, in the World Cricket League Division Three in 2013.

In 2014 the BCB negotiated a scholarship for Rawlins to attend the prestigious Bede’s School in Sussex for two years to assist with his academics in addition to providing access to the Sussex Academy programme.

At Bede’s, Rawlins benefited from the Emerging Talent Programme, which provided a unique elite player development opportunity. Since graduating from Bede’s this summer, Rawlins has been playing regularly for Sussex Second XI.

Rawlins was recently selected as part of the ECB’s Young Lions International Pathway group to attend winter training in Dubai in December, with the opportunity to progress on to the Lions tour to India in January.

He opted not to come back this summer for Cup Match, as well as the Eastern Counties, where he was eligible to be a colt for Bailey’s Bay, choosing instead to continue his progress in England.

“I don’t think it was a tough decision, obviously I got messages from people asking me if I was going to come back, even asking my parents,” said Rawlins, who is back on the island for a short break.

“At the end of the day I was looking at the goals which eventually came at the end of the summer, so it wasn’t a hard decision. I’m only 19 so I’ve got a lot of years left to play cricket.

“Eastern Counties is something I would love to play in, but with the opportunity for a contract at the end of the summer, it was something I had to sacrifice.

“Now I will try to kick on and have an even better season next summer, which hopefully will lead to another contract at the end of next summer.

“I’m back for a couple of weeks and will train with the national team.

“It’s been a long summer, but it’s nice to be back home with the family and to chill out with the boys.”