Australian all-rounder James Bazley backed to have successful Kent Spitfires spell amid One-Day Cup defence

Skipper Jan Gray has tipped Sandwich Town’s departing overseas all-rounder James Bazley to have a successful Kent stint.

Australian Bazley, 28, signed for Spitfires’ One-Day Cup defence after playing for Town this summer.

“I think that was always part of his plan for him coming over,” said Gray.

“Obviously, he came over to play club cricket but, if there were any opportunities, he would be around to play potentially for a county as well.

“That can only be good for his career.”

Bazley plays for Queensland, where he was born, and has turned out for Brisbane Heat in the T20 Big Bash League Down Under.

Gray added: “I would have thought he would be up there - if not one of the better players in the side.”

Bazley ended with figures of 2-20 from five overs as Kent beat Yorkshire by two runs on Duckworth-Lewis in a rain-disrupted opener on Tuesday. They play Leicestershire at Beckenham this Sunday.

But Sandwich will still have an overseas player, Cody Nieuwoudt now having been promoted from their second-team squad.

“James only ever was getting 14 [league] games for us because Queensland originally wanted him back then,” Gray explained.

“So we’ve only missed out on two games from him.

“But Cody is one of the top runscorers in the Kent League. He’s a very good replacement.”

He got off to a winning start as Town eased their Kent League Premier Division relegation fears with a five-wicket home win against Hayes last Saturday.

Harry Bee and Alex Smith both claimed 3-30 amid the visitors’ 189 all out.

There was another quickfire half-century for opener Zack Fagg in reply, 53 off 43 balls, and Nieuwoudt (21 not out) saw them home.

Gray reflected: “It was very good.

“This year, when we have won, it’s generally been with really good team