ALEX Davies makes no bones about it, he wants to play for England.

The Lancashire wicketkeeper toured the West Indies with England Lions over the winter and now he wants full international honours.

The Darwen man has played in the opening two County Championship matches of the season and will be behind the stumps when Surrey visit Old Trafford today.

And the 23-year-old, who has batted at three so far this season, is determined to catch the eye in 2018 having had a first taste of the international environment with the Lions

“It was brilliant winter and I really enjoyed it,” Davies told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“I had worked so hard to get where I got to so I really wanted to try and put my stamp down and take that chance.

“I definitely learnt a lot, it is a different environment. You are always wanting to prove a point and show what you can do and show everyone how good a player you are.

“I played well, just without that really big score, I kept getting in and getting out and that is something I need to work on.

“It’s just another step on the ladder, it is not the end goal, I still want to play for England and be one of the best in the world.

“Now I have just got to knuckle down and score even more runs to make the next step.”

And Davies, who learnt his trade at Birch Hall and still turns out for Darwen in the Lancashire League when he can, admitted the experience was a learning curve.

He added: “A lot of the learning was about the conditions, playing against the West Indies in the West Indies, they know how to play over there.

“Another thing was playing series cricket, in the county set-up you play against a bowler one week and then you don’t see him for four months.

“Whereas over there you are playing against the same bowlers week-in week-out and you are trying to work them out and they are trying to work you out.

“If you come up against someone who has got you out twice in two weeks then you think he might have the better of you. Then you have to play him again the next week.

“That was a learning curve for me and if I want to step up into international cricket and play in the Ashes for example then you have to play the same guys for five Tests in a row and if someone is getting you out then you need to do something about it.

“All I can do is keep playing well for Lancashire and if the call comes then it comes.”

Meanwhile, Lancashire’s James Anderson is available for two County Championship matches next month.

Burnley’s Anderson, England’s record wicket-taker, will play two games in May as he prepares for the Parkistan Test series.

The 35-year-old has been made available to play against Somerset and Nottinghamshire.

Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple said: “We know Jimmy loves playing for Lancashire, and having him back in contention will be a real boost.”