STEVE Davies gave Worcestershire a glimpse of what they would be missing next year should he decide to leave New Road after the County revealed he is stalling on a three-year deal.

Chief executive Mark Newton and director of cricket Steve Rhodes said that Worcestershire had met all of his demands requested by his agent Craig Sackfield, only for him to say that he wanted to keep his options open until the end of the season.

The Bromsgrove-born star has received a 28-day approach from Surrey, which comes to fruition in mid-July, and has subsequently told Worcestershire that he is not ready to sign any contract.

Davies top-scored for the County on the opening day of their LV County Championship Division One match with Yorkshire. The England international hit a superb 75 as the New Road side took control, closing on 319-5 with Ashley Noffke 24 not out.

“We have to go on and try and get at least 500,” said Davies, who turns 23 tomorrow. “It is going to be hard as some of our top batsmen are out.

“If we can dig in, there is no reason why we can’t. We have had some good partnerships on the opening day and that has been key.”

It was a bright start from Worcestershire in this key clash with the White Roses, also without a win this term.

Having not seen a first-wicket century stand all season, Daryl Mitchell and Stephen Moore finally delivered.

Moore, who has struggled for runs — he went into this match having only scored 97 from eight innings — hit a season’s best of 60. But, two balls before the lunch break, former England seamer Matthew Hoggard made the breakthrough — trapping the England Lion leg before with a ball that nipped back.

Skipper Vikram Solanki had only faced one ball either side of the interval before Amjal Shahzad tempted him to edge behind to Jonathan Bairstow for just one.

Ben Smith, who had scored 80 in the first innings against Sussex last week, was unable to build on that against Yorkshire. The player-fielding coach tried to cut Deon Kruis away for four, only to give Jacques Rudolph a catch at backward point for 15.

Having fallen agonisingly short of his maiden first-class century at New Road when he was dismissed for 99 against Sussex, Mitchell’s dogged innings came to an end 10 overs before the tea break.

After being dropped on 25 by Andrew Gale at second slip and then by wicketkeeper Bairstow on 33, the Badsey-born opener was undone by a yorker from Azeem Rafiq and was bowled for 68.

Moeen Ali, who hit his maiden New Road century last week, hit a fine 55 before his attempted drive to Kruis saw his middle-stump rocking.