FORMER Kidderminster cricketer Steve Davies is proving a big hit with Worcestershire this season.

The highly-rated wicketkeeper-batsman has forced his way into the County's star-studded first team and made his debut recently in both the Frizzell County Championship Division Two and the totesport League Division One.

The up-and-coming youngster was also selected to make his first-class bow at Kidderminster's Chester Road headquarters last month when he played in Worcestershire's shock eight-wicket defeat against Loughborough UCCE.

"I've got some short term goals for this season. I've already met one of them and that was to get to play some first team cricket, so we'll see how it goes from now on," said the former King Charles l High School, Kidderminster, pupil.

Davies, who will be 19 a week tomorrow, was handed an early birthday present by being drafted in for Worcestershire's Championship game with table-topping Durham which ended in a rain-ravaged draw at New Road last Saturday.

He was chosen to play solely as a batsman in place of out-of-form opener Stephen Peters while another former Kidderminster player, James Pipe, continued to impress behind the stumps.

The rain, however, meant Davies was allowed only one innings in which he spent 22 valuable minutes at the crease and faced 17 deliveries before being out for four.

Bromsgrove-born Davies, who spent a couple of years playing for Kidderminster in the Birmingham League, made his totesport League debut in Worcestershire's home game with Nottinghamshire.

On that occasion he scored an unbeaten three and also performed as wicketkeeper in place of injured Pipe, who is having an impressive season at New Road after grabbing the chance to take over the gloves from retired Steve Rhodes.

Davies, whose parents, Mike and Lin, live near Kidderminster CC's ground, has successfully worked his way through Worcestershire's junior and academy ranks and last season made his first team debut when he played in a one-day match against Sri Lanka 'A'.

"This season I've been in pretty good nick. I've been keeping wicket well and I've been batting well and getting a few scores," said Davies, who captained England Under 19s on their winter tour of Malaysia and India.

He admits, however, that his spell with Kidderminster was an important part of his cricketing education.

"I was obviously quite young when I was there. They've got some great players. Mark Mansell has been there for quite a while now and it's good to learn off those sort of people," he said.

"Kidderminster has probably got the best track in the Birmingham League so as a batsman it's a great place to play.

"I've also benefited a lot from my England Under 19s experience during the winter. I was captain and it taught me a lot. I grew in confidence. It was good to play in different conditions and it was a good experience. It was a difficult tour but we stuck together and we worked hard and I think we got a lot out of it."

Davies, however, has fond memories of his cricketing exploits in Wyre Forest, saying: "I started off playing at Victoria Carpets, which is now no more, and then moved to Kidderminster. I had two successful seasons there."

Davies, who now plays for Old Hill in the Premier Division of the Birmingham League, has quite a sporting pedigree, having also excelled at football in his younger days.

He had trials for Wolverhampton Wanderers and also turned out for a junior Kidderminster Harriers team. He has also played football for Wyre Forest Falcons, Brintons Colts and Cookley.

"I've played most sports really. I had national basketball trials and played volleyball as well," said Davies, who is now determined to make a major impact at New Road alongside another former Kidderminster player - Graeme Hick.