Kane Williamson, a right-hand top-order batsman, made his first-class debut in 2006-07 and played his first Under-19 game against the visiting Indians soon after. Born into a cricketing family - his father also represented Northern Districts at the U-17 level - he was adjudged Player of the Tournament at the Gillette Cup schools competition in 2007 and scored 47 off 65 balls against a senior Bangladeshi side a rain-affected game at the end of the year. He is a part-time offspinner as well, and led New Zealand in the U-19 World Cup in Malaysia in 2008. His form in the 2009-10 domestic season was outstanding, prompting the selectors to pick him in the squad for the second Test against Australia in Hamilton. He was the highest run-scorer in the NZC one-day competition that season with 621 runs at 77.62 and he was rewarded with a call-up to the New Zealand one-day squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka.