Cricket: Teen quick a 'very rare talent'

Australian vice-captain Shane Watson rates teenage pace sensation Pat Cummins the equal of any young player he has seen in a decade.

Watson is backing 18-year-old New South Wales teammate Cummins to make his presence felt against South Africa before an expected Australian debut in the first Twenty20 International in Cape Town tomorrow.

While the withdrawal of veteran paceman Brett Lee because of appendicitis robs Cummins of an experienced mentor, Watson is confident the tearaway will handle the pressures well, praising his maturity.

"He's as impressive as I've seen for any young guy coming through for the past 10 years," said Watson.

"Pat's a very impressive young guy ... I know what I was like when I was 18 and I definitely didn't handle myself as well as what he is. He's a really intelligent, switched-on young guy and a pretty quiet, humble guy as well so he's just taking it in his stride at the moment."

The early-season wicket at Newlands is tipped to give plenty of reward to the quicks and Watson felt that Cummins, though still relatively unknown to the public, could announce himself emphatically against the Proteas.

"He's a very rare talent. At the age of 18 to be able to bowl with the skill he does and the pace he does is very special," he said of the youngster who consistently breaks 145km/h.

"I'm sure we'll be able to see exactly what he can do against South Africa.

"He's obviously very excited to be in the Australian set-up. With his pure skill, it seems he just goes out on the ground and just runs in and bowls fast and I think everyone's going to see how mature a head he's got."

- AAP