Alex Davies made history in 2017 when he became the first Lancashire wicketkeeper to pass 1,000 first-class runs in a season, his three Championship centuries against Essex, Somerset and Hampshire helping Lancashire settle into Division One life in a summer when he also won his county cap. He was open about his ambitions to play for England, but he faced stiff competition in an era where English cricket was blessed with successful batsman-keepers.

Davies, a middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper, has excited many onlookers since he became Lancashire's youngest one-day player when he made his debut in a Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Glamorgan in August 2011, two days before his 17th birthday. He made his Championship debut just over a year later, against Surrey at Old Trafford and was included in England's Under-19 World Cup squad, scoring a half-century against South Africa.

Davies, who played club cricket for Darwen, signed his first professional contract ahead of the 2013 season. When Lancashire dropped Gareth Cross from the Championship side, he played the last three matches, at 19. Davies' career stalled briefly when Lancashire signed Jos Buttler, England's one-day wicketkeeper, for the start of the 2014 season with the expressed intention of developing his wicketkeeping skills. But by mid-season Buttler had graduated to Test level, with Davies' return even involving the opportunity to open the innings in the Championship.

With Buttler on international duty throughout 2015, Davies made a considerable impact, hitting 730 runs at an average of more than 40 and falling one run short of a maiden Championship hundred against Kent. He was also man of the match in the T20 Blast final won by Lancashire at Edgbaston, his chipper and intelligent innings at the top of the order bringing more evidence of his potential. A knee injury slowed his progress in 2016 but he averaged nearly 40 in the Championship a year later, nothing better than his maiden Championship century in early season at Essex to pronounce there were no ill effects after his 11-month lay-off.

Davies had another excellent year in 2018, particularly in the T20 Blast where he made 534 runs (the second highest tally by a Lancashire batsman) as the county reached Finals Day.

ESPNcricinfo staff