WA batsman Liam Davis says an improved mental approach and greater confidence are behind his remarkable transformation from fringe player to the Bupa Sheffield Shield's leading run-scorer.
Davis came into the 2011-12 campaign facing a battle just to earn a spot in the Warriors side after averaging just 25 in Shield matches over four seasons and failing to nail down a spot in their top order.
But the 27-year-old is enjoying an incredible breakout campaign, highlighted by his unbeaten 230 in the four-day fixture against New South Wales which put WA firmly on course for an outright victory that could take them to the top of the Shield table.
Davis' magnificent innings, which had included 32 fours and three sixes up to stumps on Saturday, was the 13th largest by a Warriors player in the competition and also made him the state's 17th Shield centurion.
It also lifted him ahead of Rob Quiney to the top of the Shield run-scorers list in 2011-12, with 753 from just six matches at an average of 75.
Although Davis' transformation in just a few more months has been nothing short of remarkable, he said he hadn't made any drastic technical changes.
"I've only made a few minor changes, it's just the mentality," he said.
"All I'm trying to do now is play the game as it is at that point and really try to get involved in the game by staying focused on what I have to do at any particular time."
"In the past I've been getting caught up in my own performance too much. Now I'm trying to focus on just thinking about the game and enjoying being out there."
Despite his incredible season, Davis said he was not letting the prospect of an international call-up distract him.
"That'll look after itself," he said.
"I think it's a fair way away but if the opportunity did come I've got a lot of confidence out there at the moment so I'm sure I could do a good job."
Davis and Adam Voges remarkably survived the entire second day's play, seeing off an insipid Blues bowling attack to build an unbeaten 343-run partnership - WA's fourth largest stand in the competition.
The pocket-sized batsman said they held no immediate plans to declare, with NSW already facing a massive challenge to overturn a 357-run overnight deficit to make the Warriors bat again.
"I'm sure we'll just try to keep batting. The wicket is wearing so the longer the game goes on the harder it will be to bat and the longer they spend out in the field the tireder they'll get," Davis said.
