When 12-year-old Williamson used Graham Thorpe's bat

There were early signs of Kane Williamson's genius. The New Zealand Herald has re-published three articles from 2003, when Williamson was 12, that tell of his exploits, and not just in cricket. The first article describes how he scored a ton of runs with former England cricketer Graham Thorpe's bat, and the third narrates how good he was at rugby too.

But even Thorpe would struggle to match the majestic deeds of 12-year-old Williamson. Williamson led Bay of Plenty Coastlands to the Northern Districts under-14 title last week in Gisborne. He amassed an incredible 420 runs in just four visits to the batting crease - pummelling unbeaten Bay of Plenty's opposition with scores of 101, 128no, 100no and 91no.

Thorpe's former test bat had been sitting around virtually unused for almost two years before Williamson picked it up. Aldridge, father of Northern Districts allrounder Graeme, got the bat from Mount Maunganui's Jim Irwin. Irwin had been given it by Ireland international and Surrey-contracted seamer Mark Patterson, who played for Mount two years ago. "Mark got the bat off Thorpe (his Surrey teammate) when England were out here at the beginning of last year and gave it to Jimmy before he left,'' Aldridge said. "I was doing some work for Jimmy and he asked me if I knew anyone who might want it. Kane sprang instantly to mind.''