Moody makes his own name in Brisbane

Ryan Harris knows a thing or two about fast bowling. The 27-Test veteran could make the ball talk in his pomp and now he's got a day job watching over the next generation of Australian quicks.

Harris singled out Western Australian product and Australia A debutant David Moody as one bright young pace-bowling talent from his stint with the National Performance Squad during last month's Quadrangular series in Townsville and Mackay last month.

"(Moody) has come a long way in the winter," Harris told cricket.com.au's The Unplayable Podcast.

"He's bowling with really good pace. He's still got a little bit to go, still a bit raw but he's had some exposure at Sheffield Shield level for Western Australia last year.

"He's getting better and better with every game."

And if Moody's performances with Australia A against India A through this first-class contest are anything to go by, the retired quick is, unsurprisingly, bang on the money.

The 21-year-old took six wickets for the match and bowled with good pace and bounce from his 195cm frame.

In the first innings, he hit an awkward length on off-stump so often that the umpires might have been tempted to caution him for wearing a hole in the pitch.

Bowling first change, he claimed 3-26 from 12.3 overs, taking two wickets in three balls to knock over the tail in a hurry and close out the innings.

He impressed captain Peter Handscomb to the point that he was asked to open the bowling in the second innings, and he duly repaid the faith, claiming a wicket in his third over and two more thereafter to finish with 3-64 from 14 overs.

His fuller length second time around cost more runs but also invited more edges, which were snapped up by a hungry slips cordon.

"I'm really happy to make the most of the opportunity so far," Moody said after play.

In the first innings the wicket was a little bit tacky so we had to be more consistent – we couldn't really blast them out.

"But today it had hardened up and there was more carry, so we were able to be a little more aggressive.

"(Bowling fuller) was definitely the directive. We wanted to have them driving, to get the slips in play with the wicket being a bit faster.

"To take the new ball in any format shows faith from the captain, so I was pretty happy with that."

The rangy West Australian and nephew of Tom Moody played his first Sheffield Shield cricket for the Warriors as a 19-year-old at the back-end of the 2014-15, when Justin Langer's side had a fast-bowler injury crisis.

Against New South Wales in Newcastle, he claimed seven wickets for the match, all top six batsmen, and was immediately marked down as 'one to watch'.

Earlier in the summer, he'd proven his penchant for removing quality batsmen when selected in a Prime Minister's XI side to take on England.

That day he removed none other than England superstar Joe Root, though Moody admits that particular early career highlight was more a case of Root "just whacking one to Glenn Maxwell at mid-on, but I'm more than happy to claim it".

Moody says the presence of Uncle Tom has been important for him but not all-encompassing, with the busyness of everyday life preventing a full-time, hands-on role.

"There's no doubt he's had an influence," he explained. "Knowing he's my uncle some people probably think he's had an ever-present role, but the reality is he's a very busy man.

"He travels often, so when I get to see him a few times throughout each season, I'll have a chat to him and see what he has to say … but it's more just that I'll make the call rather than seeing him regularly."

With performances like this in Brisbane, this Moody is quickly making his own name anyway.