Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

One of the joys of writing about sport for the last couple of decades has been watching the progress of youngsters emerge and develop into top level athletes.

I have been privileged to have been on the sideline as sportsmen, such as Kane Williamson, have made the transition from age-group sport to representing our country with the silver fern emblazoned on their chest.

One of the real highlights of covering Bay of Plenty Cricket since 2002, has been Kane's rising through the ranks of his sport to where he has now become a world class batsman. Kane first came to Sideline Sid's notice in 2002 at the Northern Districts' Under 14 tournament, where the talented youngster finished with 420 runs from four turns at the batting crease, which included three successive centuries.

Spectacular progress through the age-group ranks, including a record three centuries at the Gillette Cup (secondary schools) finals tournament, has resulted in Kane receiving a professional contract with Northern Districts while still at Tauranga Boys' College.

A couple of years after first watching the rising cricket super star, Sideline Sid walked into the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre in Tauranga, to cover a regional secondary schools' basketball tournament.

Standing out, like a giraffe in a field of antelope, was a youngster from Hamilton Boys' High who was well on his way past six foot, at 15 years of age. Back then, current Tall Black and New Zealand Breakers team member Alex Pledger had outstanding potential and future stardom written all over him with his moves around the court.

Another to catch my eye at an early age is Olympic kayak champion Lisa Carrington. After a decade of announcing at the Ocean Athletes Under 14 National Surf Lifesaving Championships, few made a bigger impression on me than this youngster, who wore her Whakatane Surf Club uniform with absolute pride.

Today, there is another youngster in local cricket that is well and truly following in the footsteps of Kane. Josh Earl is one of the stars of the Bay of Plenty Coastland Primary team that contested the Northern Districts' primary tournament last year. Josh blazed away with the bat to smash 270 runs, producing an incredible average of 90.00 – and to add to his talents, he took five wickets with best bowling figures 4/29.

Later in the season, Josh turned out for the Te Puke Cricket Club in their Williams Cup premier team, where he made an immediate impression. In three Williams Cup appearances, the youngster posted 37 runs with a top score of 27, in the red hot arena of senior men's premier club cricket. While there are no guarantees in sport, Josh looks the best young prospect to emerge in Bay cricket since Kane Williamson.

Seeya at the Game, at the Bay Oval.