Ryan Davies

Ryan Davies, a specialist wicketkeeper of high natural ability, began his career with his home county of Kent. He was Kent born and bred, studied at Sandwich Technology School and Canterbury Academy and played for Kent from U-13 level. He made his Kent first team debut in June 2015 after Sam Billings was called into England's one-day squad. By the end of the season, however, still 18 and after only eight matches in all competitions, in which his keeping ability had been more apparent than his aptitude for batting, he departed to Somerset where he had been promised regular first-team cricket. Matthew Maynard, Somerset's director of cricket, termed him "a great young talent."

That promise was kept and, after a mid-season emotional wobble, he began to live up to his reputation as one of the most promising young keepers around, as well as making a career-best 86, batting at No. 9, against Lancashire. But Somerset still hankered after more runs from their wicketkeeper, especially in limited-overs cricket, and they turned to his namesake, Steve Davies, Surrey's former England wicketkeeper, to provide it once the 2016 season was at its end. As it turned out, that signalled the end of Ryan's Somerset career. He made do with club cricket at Weston in 2017 and thanked them for helping him through when he was released by Somerset at the end of the season.

Davies bounced back once more signed a two-year contract with Durham in May 2018 after a series of impressive showings in the Academy & Second XI. He made his Durham Championship debut in the win over Derbyshire at Emirates Riverside - almost three years to the day after making his first-class debut against the same side for Kent - but was restricted to only three Championship appearances in his first season.
ESPNcricinfo staff