KEY POINTS:
For those with eyes on the future of New Zealand cricket, the first full round of the national championship this week offered an interesting glimpse of what might lie ahead.
Less than a year ago Tim Southee was duelling with teenagers at the under-19 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. On Thursday, he took the top off Australia's first innings at the Gabba in Brisbane - Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting with his first 19 balls.
His has been a rapid, spectacular advance, from taking five for 55 and belting a thunderous 77 not out off just 40 balls on debut against England at Napier, to the Gabba.
At the under-19 World Cup, Southee was the player of the tournament, taking 17 wickets at a remarkable 6.64 runs apiece.
Not far behind him was Northern Districts left-armer Trent Boult, with 11 wickets at 10.9.
Boult was one of five other members of that squad playing in the State Championship's first full round this week, and he made an immediate impact on his State Championship debut, grabbing five for 58 against Otago.
Others in action included Kane Williamson, who had a taste of first-class cricket last summer before captaining the under-19s. He hit 84 against Otago; gifted 17-year-old schoolboy Corey Anderson, another who made his debut last season, clubbed 45 and 88 not out last week against Auckland; and Central Districts' George Worker had a tidy double to help topple Auckland in Napier.
Former test captain Ken Rutherford's son Hamish made his first-class bow, an inauspicious duck opening for Otago.
Under-19 national coach and former test player, Dipak Patel is not surprised at the progression into first-class cricket of his under-19 players, and predicts more to follow.
"They're all good cricketers," Patel said. "It's about opportunities.
"What we lack here is we can't give them enough cricket of quality. There's no question in my mind that if allowed to play a full year of first-class cricket all those boys would be successful. If we're going to accelerate them we need to give them good opposition to play."
Training is all very well but nothing beats play in the middle, and he's a big fan of the New Zealand A and Emerging Players tours - the more the better.
Patel has particularly high hopes for Williamson and Boult, whom he tips could be the next to follow Southee into a black cap from last season's under-19 group.
Williamson, 18, the World Cup skipper, also captained the national under-19 team to England three months ago.
"On that tour he was by far the best batsman on the two teams, a cut above in many ways, not just cricket skills," Patel said. "He's a very astute young man, lives for cricket and brings an outstanding attitude, whether on or off the park. For someone so young he's already got a professional attitude, and you can't buy that."
Boult and Southee were the outstanding players at the World Cup, en route to a semifinal defeat to India.
Patel described Boult, 19, as not dissimilar in style to the Pakistan great Wasim Akram, sharing his quick arm action, and well capable of being slippery in pace.
"He took huge strides forward during the New Zealand A tournament in India (in September-October). Physically, he's still developing, but once he gets to his peak strength in the next 12-18 months I can see an elevation (to the national side) for him too," Patel added.
But Patel cautioned against thinking too far ahead.
"You've got to allow them time to mature into the international scene and not put too much on them.
"They need to prove themselves in first-class cricket. Let's hope they get the right guidance at that level, and get some form behind them so when they do arrive in the international arena they're not doubting themselves, wondering are they good enough to be there."
Southee has got a flier on his former teenage teammates, and Patel is chuffed.
"We spend a lot of time with these guys and give them certain things to achieve physically and mentally, as well as skill wise, so it's quite rewarding."
The young guns
On the Rise:
Last season's New Zealand under-19 World Cup squad members who played first-class cricket this week:
* Tim Southee (New Zealand) 4-63 vs Australia.
* Kane Williamson (Northern Districts) 84 and 23 vs Otago.
* Trent Boult (Northern) 5-58 vs Otago.
* George Worker (Central Districts) 24 and 27, 2-17 vs Auckland.
* Corey Anderson (Canterbury) 45 and 88 not out vs Auckland; 3 and 26 vs Wellington.
* Hamish Rutherford (Otago) 0 vs ND.
* Greg Morgan (Auckland) played three matches last season
Still to Rise:
Nick Beard, Michael Bracewell (Otago), Martin Guptill-Bunce (Auckland), Andrew Dodd (Central Districts), Fraser Colson, Harry Boam (Wellington), Anurag Verma, Tamati Clarke (Northern Districts).
