Joel Davies targets learning curve during Chennai training stint
Joel Davies said on August 8, 2026 that he hopes to make the most of a training stint in Chennai with the Cricket Australia Developmental squad at the MRF Pace Foundation. The 22-year-old left-arm spinner is on his third visit to India.
Davies made his T20 International debut against Bangladesh in June, striking with his second ball and finishing with figures of three for 17 in Chattogram. He described his prior trips to the subcontinent as helpful: “Yeah, [it helped] massively. I think the pitches didn’t spin as much as I was expecting when I was in Bangladesh. But if it was going to spin, I knew that I was equipped with the right resources to perform under different circumstances and conditions,” said Davies.
As a junior, Davies bowled left-arm medium pace before converting to spin to improve his selection chances for his local Green Shield under-16 side. “My coach told me that I wasn’t going to get picked as a fast bowler, but they needed a left-arm spinner. So, I just sort of picked that up. And then another coach told me to stick with it because no one in my family is very tall and I wasn’t going to be a tall quick bowler. It’s turned out okay so far for me,” he explained.
Davies cited several bowlers he studies while developing his craft, naming Steve O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon among his role models. He singled out one international contemporary for T20 technique: “Among international bowlers, I love watching Axar Patel. The way he bowls in T20 cricket with subtle changes, he’s very skilful. I think if I can replicate him at any point, that’s going to help me benefit, [considering] just how successful he’s been.”
On the specifics he is working on in Chennai, Davies stressed shape and variation as priorities, along with adapting his action and use of the crease. “You can use a bit more side spin here. But still just trying to be able to manage side spin and over spin, and working on different arm positions and using the crease a little bit more. With batting, I think it’s a lot to do with sweeping for me. I’m not a massive sweeper,” he said.
“If I can take a few little things back home with me, then yeah, I’ll have had a successful trip,” added Davies, underlining that the practical improvements he picks up in Chennai will determine the value of this Developmental squad assignment.