It's time for coloured clothes and white balls as the Darwin leg of the six-week Australia A tour gets underway.

Competing against the Aussie side in the quad-series will be India A, South Africa A and Cricket Australia’s National Performance Squad comprising some of the best young talent in the country.

With the ICC Cricket World Cup a little more than six months away, players will be doing everything they can to impress and hopefully earn selection ahead of one-day cricket’s showpiece event.

With that in mind, here are the 10 players you should be following throughout the one-day quad-series in the Top End.

Quick Single: All you need to know for the quad series

Pat Cummins – Australia A

Matches Wickets Bowling ave. Econ Four wickets+ ODI 5 7 30.57 5.94 0 List A 9 19 35.60 5.65 0

Please stay fit, Pat. Recurring injuries have meant we still don’t really know how good the young speedster can be, but Cummins’ sensational entry into international cricket against South Africa gave everyone a small taste of what to expect in the years to come.

If he can stay fit and put some good performances on the board in Darwin and the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup later this year, Cummins may just provide some fast bowling depth in Australia’s World Cup squad.

“He hasn’t played a lot of cricket, but we’ll try to get him in bowling fast, that’s the key for him,” Australia A bowling coach Ryan Harris told cricket.com.au.

Mitch Marsh – Australia A

Matches Runs Batting ave. Wickets Bowling ave. ODI 4 39 13.00 1 44.00 List A 33 945 33.75 25 24.20

Marsh was identified as one of the players to watch in the four-day matches against India A and delivered in a big way during the tour opener with a sensational double-century.

There’s no doubt Marsh has the ability to make a return to the national one-day line-up, but the young allrounder is well aware that he needs to produce consistent performances to get there.

The 22-year-old is likely to slot into the top six in the batting order and his medium-fast bowling will be crucial throughout the two-week tournament.

Peter Nevill – Australia A

Matches Runs Batting ave. Catches Stumpings List A 32 499 20.79 39 4

Nevill is one of a number of wicketkeepers jostling to be next in line behind Brad Haddin as Australia’s first-choice keeper.

Young gun Sam Whiteman did his chances no harm with an incredible innings against India A in Brisbane, as well as some sound glovework behind the stumps that included one of the better you catches you’ll see.

Now it’s Nevill’s turn to impress. Generally considered more of a red-ball cricketer, the 28-year-old will have the opportunity to impress everyone watching on in Darwin, including selector on duty Mark Waugh.

Cameron White – Australia A

Matches Runs Batting ave. SR Scores of 50+ ODI 87 2037 35.12 80.48 13 List A 227 5912 35.40 78.90 44

Far and away the most experienced player in the Australia A squad, captain White will be out to prove he still has what it takes ahead of the World Cup.

White’s 50-over ability was on full display in last year’s RYOBI Cup, scoring 387 runs at an average of 77.4 to be crowned Player of the Tournament.

Despite his last ODI appearance coming in April 2011, the 30-year-old is still confident of getting back into the one-day XI.

“I feel as though I’ve had a good last 12 or 18 months. I’m feeling like my game is in a really good position at the moment and hopefully I can build on last season which was a good one for me,” White told media ahead of the one-day opener against India A.

Clint McKay – Australia A

Matches Wickets Bowling ave. Econ Four wickets+ ODI 59 97 24.37 4.78 6 List A 98 153 26.06 4.72 7

Given Australia’s fast bowling depth at the moment, McKay is seemingly no longer the automatic selection in Australia’s ODI line-up that he once was.

The former ODI Player of the Year does, however, hold a point of difference with his crafty use of cutters and slower-balls complementing the sheer pace of Mitch Johnson and co.

The Australian calendar is loaded with ODI matches over the next six months, but McKay will be aware that performances in Darwin will set him up for spot in the nation’s World Cup campaign.

Ashton Agar – National Performance Squad

Matches Wickets Bowling ave. Econ Four wickets+ List A 4 6 27.83 4.10 0

When you have an international debut like Agar’s at Trent Bridge, people are going to want to follow your progress!

Just 20-years-old and with only four list A matches under his belt, Agar is still learning his craft when it comes to the 50-over format.

His natural athleticism and all-round ability means he is well suited for white-ball cricket. While he might not be on the radar for national selection in the short-term, Agar is definitely one to watch for the future.

In a side full of talented youngsters, Agar and his NPS team-mates will be out to upstage their more fancied opponents and show what they’re capable of against some high quality opposition.

Sanju Samson – India A

Matches Runs Batting ave. Catches Stumpings List A 14 310 23.84 13 1

When Sachin Tendulkar speaks, you listen.

Samson, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, was the equal leading run-scorer for Rajasthan in IPL 7 with 339 runs at 26.07, impressing many throughout the tournament including the Little Master.

“He’s shown tremendous temperament. I’ve been watching for the last couple of years," Tendulkar said.

“I had a brief chat with him last year when I was in Rajasthan. He seemed like a composed kid with (a good) head on his shoulders and I think that’s really important.”

With plenty of hype surrounding him, Samson will be one to follow throughout his time in Australia.

Unmukt Chand – India A

Matches Runs Batting ave. SR Scores of 50+ List A 43 1434 34.97 68.35 10

Chand is one Indian batsman who has fond memories of Australia, having led the under-19 side to World Cup glory here in 2012 with an unbeaten century in the final against the hosts.

Now 21, Chand will be looking to string together some consistent performances during his time in Darwin against some talented opposition.

Kagiso Rabada – South Africa A

Matches Wickets Bowling ave. Econ Four wickets+ List A 1 2 24.00 6.00 0

Rabada doesn’t exactly boast a record that will be sending shivers down the spine of the opposition, but a quick chat with some of the NPS players will give an indication of how talented this young quick is.

Rabada decimated the Australia line-up during the semi-final of the under-19 World Cup earlier this year, claiming 6-25 from 8.2 devastating overs.

The fiery fast bowler has shown his ability in the youth age-group, but it will be fascinating to see how well he makes the leap up to the ‘A’ level during the quad-series.

Beuran Hendricks – South Africa A

Matches Wickets Bowling ave. Econ Four wickets+ List A 23 27 35.88 6.21 0

Australian fans will be familiar with Hendricks following his appearances in the T20I series earlier this year, with the left-arm quick’s pace and swing drawing some comparisons with our very own Mitchell Starc.

Hendricks is expected to feature in an exciting fast bowling assault with Rabada and Rory Kleinveldt, who makes his return to cricket following a knee injury in April.

With South Africa’s fast bowling stocks high in numbers and quality, Hendricks’ performance with the ball in Darwin will be crucial if he hopes to earn a place in the ODI tri-series against Australia and Zimbabwe next month, and eventually the World Cup back in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Follow live scores of all the Australia A matches in Darwin, starting Sunday, right here on cricket.com.au