Late blooming Kiwi spinner William Somerville has been starring for New South Wales in Australia's tough Sheffield Shield competition.

An unheralded New Zealand bowler is being touted as a potential Australian representative as he takes the Sheffield Shield by storm.

Wellington-born offspinner Will Somerville has taken 26 wickets in just four first-class appearances this summer.

His latest figures included an incredible 8-136 off 58.5 overs in the first innings of the drawn match against Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

GETTY IMAGES William Somerville has tasted Twenty20 success with the Sydney Sixers in Australia's Big Bash.

The Daily Telegraph in Sydney suggested that if injuries hit the Australian spinning stocks on their current tour of India, the 32-year-old Somerville could be the likely replacement.

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"As far as right-arm off-spinners are concerned, the unlikely Somerville stands head and shoulders above anyone else in domestic cricket," the Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday, labelling him "the next cab off the rank".

Somerville holds dual citizenship and went to university in Dunedin, but after failing to break into the Black Caps during a stint with Otago, he now has his sights set on the Australian side.

A chartered accountant who was playing grade cricket in Sydney, he has been starring for NSW as cover for Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe while they have been on international duties.

He's made such an impact, he might get a callup himself, but you won't hear the modest Somerville talking up his chances.

"(Standing in for Lyon and O'Keefe) has been my position for the last three seasons and it's just a matter of trying to take that opportunity and not worrying too much about it," Somerville told the Daily Telegraph.

"Just trust what you're doing and trust that's going to contribute for the team.

"I'm at an age where that's all I really want to do is keep playing to enjoy it. I'm very much enjoying it and I love playing for the Blues.

"I played for Otago and I've still got my NZ citizenship. I was born there, and I'm a dual national but I'm in Australia and I want to play cricket here.

"That's what I'm enjoying doing and I'm hoping to continue to do that for a while hopefully."

Somerville has been a model of perserverance and his current status is proof of that as he worked on his fitness and bowling skills.

He's even shown enough temperament to play in the Big Bash Twenty20 tournament for the Sydney Sixers.

"I stuck at it. I always believed that I had some skills that were going to be good at the next level and I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity," he said.

"It did take a while and I had a job as well, so my life was always really busy and I was just enjoying doing other things I suppose.

"And then an opportunity came about and it's been a wonderful change in my life becoming a full time cricketer. Getting really fit over the last couple of years has made a big difference to my bowling as well and my performance has gone up too.

"I keep improving which is the most exciting thing for me. I'm continuing to improve and winning games for the Blues has been great fun over the last three years."

New South Wales are second on the Sheffield Shield points table.