Cricket's rising stars

Jeet Raval of Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury's defence of the Plunket Shield kicks off New Zealand's domestic cricket season on Monday. None of the New Zealand squad will be involved, as they make their way home from Zimbabwe. But as always, for several players this season appeals as a chance to show their abilities with an eye on national selection in the future. Here are six whose progress will be worth following.

Jeet Raval
Auckland

When the lefthand opener hit 256 in just his second first-class game against Central Districts in the final match of the 2008-09 season - Auckland's equal third highest individual score - it strongly suggested a big future for the young man born in Ahmedabad.

Raval hit a century in the following season and his final innings of last summer produced an even 100 against Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park.

But along the way those highs have been interspersed with too many misses. From 19 innings last season, Raval averaged just 21.89.

Overall, his 21 first-class games have produced 1237 runs at 35.34.

He's 23 and this season appeals as his time to make a significant statement with the bat.

Trent Boult
Northern Districts

The young left arm swing bowler won a national contract for this summer, yet he's not in Zimbabwe. Comprendez? No. He's 22 and from 18 first-class games has taken 54 wickets at 26.85.

Trim that to focus on last season, and it gets better: 32 wickets at 25.34 - third best behind Neil Wagner and Canterbury spinner Todd Astle.

There was an early five-wicket haul against Wellington, then eight for 82 in the win over Auckland at Colin Maiden Park and a further seven when the teams met again at Seddon Park.

Boult had an early taste of the New Zealand team environment in Australia in early 2009 when he was belted around Manuka Oval in a Prime Minister's XI game in Canberra.

He swings the ball and clearly has talent. He's spent a fair bit of time in Lincoln over the winter for high performance training among a group of promising young fast bowlers.

"Physically I think I've made some good gains over a fairly intensive winter so it's a matter now of transferring that with my bowling," Boult said this week.

"I can bowl as quick as I can but I need to be swinging the ball - in world cricket that's a must."

The fact that he has a national contract means coach John Wright must see something in him. What better time to prove him right than now.

Ben Wheeler
Central Districts

The province have a cluster of promising young fast-medium bowlers, headed by new international Doug Bracewell. Slippery Adam Milne had a brief taste of international cricket last season; Bevan Small is getting over a long-term injury issue and then there's Blenheim-born Wheeler.

The lively left-armer, who turns 20 next Thursday, was in the New Zealand youth team two seasons ago. He has played 10 first-class games for 26 wickets at 29.26, but made a strong start last summer.

Wheeler took nine for 102 against Wellington in round one; and his four for 59 in the second innings of the second round helped topple Canterbury. He had 14 wickets at 14 apiece after two rounds, but he missed the next two rounds and chipped away handily upon his return.

He's well regarded, and has been part of the New Zealand Cricket fast bowlers' group getting extra monitoring.

A hamstring twinge means he's unlikely to figure in next week's opening Plunket Shield round.

While it is unwise to rush young fast-medium bowlers,his promise means he'll be watched withinterest this season.

Neil Wagner
Otago

Pretoria-born but eligible for New Zealand early next year, Wagner's is the selection that should most excite New Zealand supporters.

A lively, bouncy left armer, Wagner, 25, is preparing for his fourth season with Otago.

In 44 first-class games, he's taken 189 wickets at an excellent 22.75.

Last summer he pulled in a remarkable 51 wickets at just 18.15, including a world first five wickets in a six-ball over, against Wellington at Queenstown.

Wagner took nine wickets in that win, 10 for 110 against Auckland; eight for 121 in the earlier Wellington game.

Whether Wagner is rushed into the national side with indecent haste remains to be seen; but his is the selection which would be most keenly anticipated around the country.

Tom Latham
Canterbury

Son of former international and Canterbury favourite Rod Latham, the wicketkeeper-batsman was in the New Zealand youth team last year and made his first-class debut last summer.

His six games produced an average of 28.57 batting in the middle order, with the occasional trip up to the top. With Reece Young having the gloves, Latham's chances behind the stumps were limited.

However, with Young having the New Zealand job now, it should mean more opportunities for 19-year-old Latham.

Stephen Murdoch
Wellington

Wellington have been the basket case of domestic cricket of late, but Murdoch's got something about him. From 10 first-class games, the opener is averaging an impressive 45.11, and make that 53.2 last summer, with a couple of centuries.

Of batsmen who played six or more Plunket Shield games, Murdoch sat fourth on the averages behind Derek de Boorder, Kruger van Wyk and Daniel Flynn. He tends not to mess about either.

In a 50-over game at the national under 23 tournament last season, Murdoch tonked 225 not out to carry Wellington to 357 for seven and victory over Auckland. Murdoch also found fleeting attention last season as the victim of a stupid Jesse Ryder tweet after a run-out incident, on one of the international's comeback games.