In years to come, when he is established at Test level, people will look back to 2004 and recall a young Michael Clarke continuing his inexorable progress to superstardom at Hampshire.
The coming season will tell, but they might also recall the Australian playing a pivotal role in reversing the county's on-field decline.
In Clarke, Hampshire have a bulb that is blossoming all the time and will continue to do so at the Rose Bowl.
Some players become Test crickers, others - like Clarke - are destined for it. That is how mapped out his future is in a country where patience is a pre-requisite for cricketers.
But while the one-day regular waits for the inevitable Test call, Hampshire regulars can look forward to a season of thrills from the dashing 23-year-old batsman.
"I want to work on some areas of my game and improve my batting and I just think it's a great opportunity for me," Clarke told BBC Sport.
"Most of my team-mates in the Australian one-day side have played county cricket at some stage and they all love it.
"I've been following county cricket over the past couple of years, and a few Hampshire players came over to Sydney recently to do some work with our physio Patrick Farhart.
"I had a chance to meet them and they seemed like fantastic guys."
 |  Shane is a great guy and I'm looking forward to him being my captain |
Clarke cites Farhart, who is also the physio at the Rose Bowl, as influential in his decision to play for Hampshire.
But the biggest draw card was Shane Warne, the Aussie leg-spinner who will captain Hampshire after missing the first year of his contract due to a drugs ban.
"My manager spoke with a couple of county teams but I'd spoken with Shane a fair bit about coming to Hampshire and he was a big influence on my decision," Clarke says.
"Shane is a great guy and I'm looking forward to him being my captain for a few months.
"It's going to be great and I hope I can win a trophy or two with the club."
Hampshire endured a disappointing 2003 Championship campaign, finishing eighth in Division Two the season after being relegated from the top-flight.
Clarke is clearly an exciting signing for them, though naturally his ambitions extend beyond first-class level.
"I don't really set too many individual goals, although any young cricketer's ultimate dream is to wear the Baggy Green Cap and play Test cricket," he says.
 Clarke does not feel under pressure despite the expectations |
"How far away it is I don't know. I'm just going to continue working as hard as I can and scoring as many runs as I can."
Clarke is regarded as a long-term prospect to fill the considerable void left in the middle-order by Steve Waugh.
"I don't feel any pressure at all. It's great people think so highly of me and I appreciate it, but I don't feel a weight of expectation on my shoulders."
Clarke has crammed quite a bit into a first-class career that started when he broke into the NSW team as an 18-year-old.
He averages nearly 40 from 25 one-day matches and led Australia to victory in the one-day TVS Cup final against India in Calcutta last November with a starring all-round showing.
| HAMPSHIRE 2004 Team Manager: Paul Terry Captain: Shane Warne Overseas players: Michael Clarke, Shane Warne (Shane Watson as cover) Players in: Shane Warne, Michael Clarke, Billy Taylor, Michael Brown, Shane Watson Players out: Robin Smith, John Francis, Alex Morris, Iain Brunnschweiler, Simon Katich, Chaminda Vaas |
"But I would say that the highlight of my career so far would be winning the four-day and one-day trophies with NSW two seasons ago. "Playing and winning in India was tough and something I hadn't experienced before."
Clarke is a dashing batsman. At the crease, he often seems burdened by the choice his talent allows him.
His style, reminiscent of former Test opener Michael Slater, has led to some dazzling strokeplay and some equally dazzling dismissals.
"When I was younger, I used to love watching him bat. He was very exciting and very aggressive, but I think I've got my own sort of style.
"I just play the way I play and hope it works."
So far it has worked a treat, and Hampshire hope it continues to as they strive to arrest their flagging fortunes.
MMIX
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