WORCESTERSHIRE batting coach Kevin Sharp predicted a bright future for teenager Joe Clarke after he made his first senior 50 in the LV= County Championship Division One clash with Warwickshire at New Road.

The performance of the England under 19s wicketkeeper was one of the rare plus points for the County from the two-day encounter, which Warwickshire won by an innings and 17 runs.

Clarke, who played purely as a batsman, looked at home in the first-team environment in going to his first-innings half-century off just 58 balls.

It followed his breakthrough appearance against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl after a double century for the seconds against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Sharp, who is also the County’s second XI coach, said: “Joe is a very talented young player and has got a very bright future.

“He has been given his opportunity in the first team, which is very exciting, and I’m sure he will go a long way in the game.

“He doesn’t look fazed. He is quite a resilient lad and mentally quite tough and he has got a very good cricket brain. He works things out quickly.

“He has got a bit of fire in his belly, a lot of spirit and that comes to the fore when he is playing.”

Clarke, 19, is the only Worcestershire player to have ever scored two double hundreds for the second string following his 222 against MCC Young Cricketers in the Second XI Championship last summer.