Three years ago, Fraser Ellis was facing Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi in an under 17 international.
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Yesterday, Afridi was bowling to Australia's best in the Gabba Test.
Now naturally it's a long way from national junior selection to Test level, but it highlights the standing a young Ellis had in Australia's elite under-age competitions.
This time last year, 19-year-old Ellis was playing for City Colts in Wangaratta and District, but he moved to Tallangatta over winter as he looks to reignite his representative career.
"I just wanted to move to a better standard and there were more coaching opportunities (as I look to improve) as well," he said.
The right-arm paceman has made an instant impact, grabbing 11 wickets in the two formats at 12.4, but it was his match-winning performance against New City last week which announced his arrival.
Ellis claimed 2-13 from eight miserly overs and then passed 30 for the first time, finishing on 51, in the two-wicket win.
"He's a terrific pick up, he's a good bat and bowler and arguably the best fielder in the side," captain-coach Matt Armstrong said.
"He was getting them through pretty quickly and giving them (New City) a bit of trouble."
The week before, Ellis had impressed for Riverina in the NSW Country Championship.
"He looks like he's going to be one of the best bowlers in our competition," Riverina captain and Wodonga star Tom Johnson said after the youngster took 4-74 against three powerhouse teams.
Johnson spoke of how much the teenager had improved in the first six weeks as he quickly adapted to short-form cricket.
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"I think playing the different formats here has helped, they're all one-dayers (either T20 or 50-over), back home we mainly had two-dayers," he said.
"At the start of the innings you just try to get the batsmen to play as much as possible and then late in the innings execute my slower ball and yorkers."
Unlike so many talented cricketers who tend to give up football, Ellis is combining both with Ovens and Murray Football League powerhouse Wangaratta.
"I'm probably better at cricket, but I like footy more," he said.
"By the end of the cricket season, you're pretty keen for the footy, but when footy is coming to an end, you look forward to the cricket."
Tallangatta is away to Lavington on Saturday, North Albury is home to Albury, Wodonga Raiders host Belvoir, Wodonga faces New City at Les Cheesley Oval and East Albury is home to St Patrick's.