Batty's future in doubt after Brown Caps swoop for Davies

WICKET-KEEPER Steven Davies has joined Surrey on a three-year contract after deciding to quit Worcestershire.

The 23-year-old is considered one the finest young wicket keepers in the country and made his International Twenty20 debut in March this year against the West Indies.

However, the move casts further doubt about the futures of Jonathan Batty and Gary Wilson - the two men to keep wicket for Surrey this summer.

Batty, who has spent more than a decade at the Oval and is enjoying a benefit year this season, has not impressed manager Chris Adams and the move for Davies adds to speculation he will move on over the winter.

And Adams admitted the signing of a new keeper was essential in order to build a side capable of regularly challenging for honours again.

He said: "We are looking to build a side that will be capable of winning trophies for many years to come and Steven is exactly the kind of player that will help us do that.

"He has proven his talent on the domestic scene and I hope that by moving to Surrey he will be able to establish himself at the highest possible level."

Davies himself added he was pleased to be joining such an ambitious county.

He said: "Surrey are the biggest club in the country and I was very flattered when they made a move to sign me.

"With a developing squad that is already very strong, I am hugely excited about playing my part in the next era of Surrey Cricket."

Davies has also represented the England Lions and England A in recent seasons, making a 50 on his Lions first class debut earlier this season.

He joins the club from Worcestershire where he has accumulated a first-class average of 36.46, taking 207 catches in 73 games. Davies has also proven extremely adept at the shorter forms of the game, averaging 35.71 in List A and 20.12 in Twenty20 cricket.

A former captain of the England Under 19s, Davies has impressed at all levels.

After averaging more than Graeme Hick in his debut season of 2005, he topped 1,000 runs in 2006 – a tally that included his first-class best of 192, scored against Glamorgan at the age of just 19.

Since then he has been a permanent fixture in the Worcestershire side and staked an even greater claim to international honours after being promoted to open the innings in the NatWest Pro40 competition and finding his uncomplicated style flourishing at the top of the order.

Managing director of Surrey Cricket, Gus Mackay, concluded: "The signing of Steven Davies underlines the direction we are moving the club in.

"He is an exciting, young, international player and will play a massive role in bringing long term success to Surrey."