Kurtis Patterson has a hard act to follow if he wants to win a first Test cricket cap, but has the support of one of Australia's greatest ever batsmen.
NSW player Patterson is one of the last of the potential candidates for selection in the third Test against South Africa to have a bat in the current round of Sheffield Shield cricket.
Of those who have had their chance, Victorian Peter Handscomb looks to have put a hefty down payment on a first Test cap.
He plundered 215 off the NSW attack on the first two days of the game at the SCG.
Middle order batsman Patterson made a good start after NSW lost the early wickets of Test stalwarts, Steve Smith and David Warner on Friday.
The 23-year-old finished day two unbeaten on 28 with NSW 2-95 chasing Victoria's first innings of 6 -510 (dec).
Patterson has support from legendary Australian batsman and former selector Neil Harvey, who on Friday nominated the young New South Welshman as one player he wanted to see promoted to the Test team.
He scored 737 runs in nine matches at an average of 52.64. last season and represented Australia A in mid-2016..
Patterson scored 77 not out in the Blues domestic one-day final win last month and followed up with a century in their first Shield match in Brisbane and a half century in their second game in Sydney.
While Handscomb prospered on Friday, some other Test hopefuls and stalwarts at the SCG failed to fire.
Victorians Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell didn't boost their chances of regaining a Test spot, falling for six and ten respectively.
Likewise, NSW and Australian batting mainstays Smith and Warner also failed to get going, dismissed for eight and 11.
Patterson will resume his innings and a 73-run third wicket partnership with opener Daniel Hughes, who will look to build on his promising start of 42.
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