Josh Philippe has been described as an Australian player-in-waiting by Sydney Sixers skipper Moises Henriques after a breakout Big Bash League campaign.
Philippe is shaping as key to the second-placed Sixers' championship charge after his game-winning 86 not out against Hobart last week and has earned comparisons to banned Australian skipper Steve Smith.
Not only has the West Australian solved the Sixers' top order woes, after being bumped up into the opening position, he is being sized up for international honours down the track.
After Philippe destroyed the Hurricanes bowling attack to lead the Sixers to an upset win at the SCG last Wednesday, former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: "Josh Philippe is the player the Aussies should pick for the ODIs."
And Henriques said given his current trajectory, he expected to see the 21-year-old wearing the green and gold within the next few years.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"He's still very young and raw but he's extremely talented, so it's exciting for us," Henriques said.
"Right from the first game we've been thrilled with how he's gone.
"I'd suggest, in a few years' time, if he keeps performing how he is now, there must be something wrong if he's not playing at the next level."
Philippe is a dead ringer for Smith - not just in terms of looks but the way he nervously jumps around the crease.
Smith took Philippe under his wing when he arrived at NSW Cricket headquarters at the start of the summer and Henriques said they were eerily similar.
"I've never seen anyone with a smaller head than Steve Smith until I saw Josh Philippe - they have to get custom-made caps because their heads are so small," Henriques said.
"They're like little tennis balls.
"Even the way they move around the crease, how fidgety they are."
Heading into Tuesday's clash with Adelaide at the SCG, the Sixers are one of three teams on 12 points - though the Melbourne Renegades can move to 14 points with a win over the Perth Scorchers on Monday night.
The Sixers can eliminate the Strikers with a win but Henriques said they were more concerned about locking up a finals spot than inflicting heartache on last year's champions.
"It doesn't mean anything more. It advances us up the leaderboard which is great," Henriques said.
"The only thing we'd take away is beating a really good side twice in a season."
