One to watch: Steve Davies

Only one letter separates this boy, Steve Davies, from the old snooker lag, Steve Davis, but skill for skill, talent for talent, they are as close as close things could be. By just 5 days or so, Steve Davies with an e, left-hand bat and wicketkeeper for Worcestershire, is eligible to feature in The Googly's One to watch slot. He will be 21 on the 17th June, and by the end of the 2006 season, was being touted as a contender for the spot of England's next wicketkeeper as Chris Read and Geraint Jones fell out of form and favour.

Much to my relief, although Davies was selected for the National Academy last winter, it was first Paul "Badger" Nixon and then Matt Prior who were called upon to wear the gloves for England. This gives the young man more time to develop out of the intense limelight of the international game, though his latest performance with the bat - a fine 81 against Surrey at New Road last week (and a healthy handful of catches) will certainly keep his name on everyone's list of contenders.

A chance to show whether his junior class can be transferred to the highest level of the sport will surely come sooner rather than later.

Davies captained the England Under-19s and toured the West Indies with England A in 2005. 2006 saw him top 1000 runs for his county, his cumulative score is now over 2000, and he won the NBC Denis Compton Award for 3 years running in 2004, 05 and 06. This cricket-watcher will be keeping a close eye on the County scorecards for the rest of the season and certainly won't be surprised to see Davies in the England side before the year is out.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]