TALENTED Worcestershire batsman Joe Clarke has been hailed after making a century against Gloucestershire in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two.

Clarke, 19, finished the second day on 103 not out as Worcestershire reached 297-5 after Gloucestershire had posted 380.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "Clarke is fine prospect. One of his advantages is he likes to score and what I mean by that is that he puts the bowlers under pressure.

"If they bowl a slight four ball, he has got a nasty habit of putting it away for four so it is a great asset.

"Added to that he has a nice tempo to his batting. He seems to respect things and hang around and he knows he can only score his runs if he is out there batting so he doesn't get in a runaway train where he'll go 4, 4, 6 and hit it up in the air.

"He bats nicely and has got some very good qualities."