Derbyshire v Australia Day 1: 19-year-old Will Davis turns in stellar shift
Australia 413-9 (Marsh 101 retired, Warner 101 retired, Davis 3-63, White 2-85) v Derbyshire
The visitors may have racked up 400 at Derby today, but against what was close to a second team attack, that was always likely.
Shaun Marsh, a batsman I have always liked, joined Test incumbent Dave Warner in a stand of 154 for the first wicket, but thereafter our young attack came back into it and gave a decent account of themselves.
Harry White, at 20, did a good job as another left-arm option to our seam bowling ranks, while star turn was Will Davis, who at 19 looks a bowler of some potential. I have heard many things about him, all of it positive and his spell in the afternoon, when he dismissed Michael Clarke and Adam Voges, looked most impressive.
He bowls with lively pace and will almost certainly get quicker as he thickens out.I don't think we have too much to worry about in the seam bowling ranks for the next few years, because the talent is undoubtedly there and Graeme Welch is as good a many as there is to build on their talents.
Indeed, the ranks were bolstered in the short term by the loan signing of 22-year old Warwickshire seamer Tom Milnes today. He has come on board for a month, presumably covering for Tom Taylor, who was injured in a car crash the other day. With Ben Cotton just returned from a side strain, Graeme Welch will be loathe to overwork Greg Cork and Davis at a formative stage of their development and has rightly and sensibly moved for a bowler of talent who he knows well from his days at Edgbaston.
Whether this is with a view to a longer-term deal is anyone's guess, though the use of 'it gives him a chance to show us what he can do' in the club's write-up suggests it may be a possibility. The player's contract is up this summer, so he has an opportunity to impress in the next few weeks.
I wish him well, like the Derbyshire batsmen tomorrow.