Sideline Sid has been reminded that cricket is like life which never goes in a straight line, but has many highs and lows before players reach their goals.

A English player that showcased his amazing batting skills in the Bay of Plenty before his recent selection to play test cricket for his country of birth, and the promotion of a Tauranga Boys' College student to make his Bay of Plenty senior representative debut before his 16th birthday - showed that (cricket) dreams can be a roller coaster ride of patience and opportunity.

A decade ago, Alex Lees was the next big thing in English cricket, with former English opener Geoffrey Boycott saying "I think he's very good - I like the whole package with him".

In 2014, Lees was selected for the English Lions (England A) and seemed to have the cricket world at his feet.

It wasn't until March 2022, that Lees got his test call-up with his selection in the current England verses West Indies test series in the Caribbean.

Last weekend, Sebastian Heath made his Bay of Plenty senior representative debut against Counties Manukau at the Weymouth Oval, aged 15 years 245 days.

He made a positive start to the big jump in the class of competition, with nine runs from 27 balls.

Bay of Plenty cricket watchers got a good look at Lees' ability with his willow weapon, during a fleeting two month visit in early 2017.

To say Lees made a spectacular entrance is an understatement.

In just five games in the blue and gold strip, the then Yorkshire professional smashed 410 runs at an average of 68.3.

He told this writer on arrival 'My focus while in the Bay of Plenty is to get as many runs as possible and also impart some of the knowledge that was passed on to me in my early days with Yorkshire".

"I see my role in club and rep cricket as helping the lads out to become more professional in their approach to the game".

Three Hawke Cup Direct Challenges saw Lees set a myriad of new Bay of Plenty records.

In the first Hawke Cup defence of the season, Lees rewrote the provinces highest representative score in blasting 223 runs before being dismissed.

After being removed for just four runs, in the second Hawke Cup Direct Challenge of the season, the dashing batsman went on to belt 141 in his second turn at bat.

He rounded out his New Zealand Hawke Cup encounters with 21 runs in the match-up with Nelson, to give him a remarkable Hawke Cup average of 97.25.

In his short time in the country, Lees posted the highest Bay of Plenty and Hawke Cup score since the Bay played their first game in 1932.

He also became the first Bay of Plenty player to score two successive Hawke Cup match centuries.

Lees 223 off 271 balls, which included 27 fours and one big heave over the boundary ropes, remains the highest all-comers score at the Bay Oval.

Seb Heath has already joined an illustrious group of Bay of Plenty representative players who all wore the Bay uniform before their 16th birthday.

Heading the elite group is New Zealand Under 19 representative, Tim Pringle, on 15 years 92 days, followed In close attendance by Kane Williamson (15 years 111 days).

Heath is in third place, with two further Black Caps in Matthew Hart and current Bay senior men's coach Daniel Flynn next on the list.

It will be interesting to chart the progress of both Lees and Heath in the future as they navigate the roller-coaster ride that top level cricket produces.

Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz