Ryan Davies relishing England Under-19 tour to Australia

Kent wicketkeeper Ryan Davies (pictured right) is relishing the prospect of taking on the Aussies in their own backyard with a county colleague over the next few weeks.

Davies and Hugh Bernard, both 18, have both been included in the England under-19s squad that flies to Perth next week to play five one-day matches and a four-day Test against their Australia counterparts at the famous WACA ground.

It will be the first under-19 Ashes battle in Australia for more than a decade, and the England management, led by former Somerset coach Andy Hurry, recruited Cook to help their preparations during a four-day camp at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

“It was really useful,” said Davies, the Sandwich Town wicketkeeper who will be making his first trip to Australia.

“Having an England captain spend the morning with you is something that you can’t experience with your county – unless you play for Essex, I suppose.

“He was really open and honest about everything, and I could relate it to my game in the way he was quite chilled out and relaxed when he first batted, but then talked about how to switch on for his second and third sessions.”

Margate-born Davies has been working with Sam Billings, who is also very firmly in the England set-up after impressing with the Lions this winter, at Canterbury in recent weeks.

“He’s probably worked more with Geraint Jones in the past so it’s been great to get to know him a bit,” added the Canterbury Academy student, who was an opening bowler at the start of his cricketing journey before switching to wicketkeeping at the age of 11.

“He’s gained a lot of experience with the England Lions this winter, so there’s a lot I can learn off him.”

Davies is pleased to be heading for Australia with Bernard, an old sparring partner and now a good friend from their days at the prolific Kent Cricket Academy.

“Hugh has been quite a late developer in terms of Kent age groups, but I’ve known him for eight or nine years because he’s from Folkestone and I play at Sandwich Town and our clubs always have a good battle.

“It’s really helpful going out on a long tour to have someone who’s a good friend. After the camp in Loughborough, it’s coming around really quickly now. We can’t wait.”

Tickets for the 2015 Kent season, including the four-day Australia tour match on June 25-28, are now available from www.kentcricket.co.uk