"Scary ... the kid is not normal".

So wrote Sutherland District Cricket Club's first-grade captain Matthew Hughston in his recap of the Sharks' 2009-10 season as Steve Smith's destiny to be an Australian Test cricketer – and ultimately the captain – became blatantly clear.

Hughston was revisiting what he called "the most brutal innings I have witnessed", a knock of 134 off 67 balls that the then 20-year-old had bludgeoned in a limited-overs run chase against Mosman.

A flick further back through Sutherland's annual reports reveals the makings of Australia's 45th Test captain.

In 2004-05, at the age of 15, there was a club record 280-run unbeaten stand in fifth grade with future Sydney Thunder coach Shane Duff - "Smitty scored his second ton on the trot, with 18 fours in his 134*" - and soon after he was making a name for himself in first grade.

His first appearance in the top grade came in round seven of the 2005-06 season. "A very hard and very green wicket awaited us at Killara for the match vs Gordon," the annual report said.

"Again we batted poorly and found ourselves behind on the first innings, but a new star was unearthed on day two in the second innings - 16-year-old Steve Smith.

"We smashed their attack to all parts to set up an outright game, then bowled them out inside 27 overs!"

The highlight was "Smithy in his first first-grade game hitting a six then smugly blocking the next ball before the bowler challenged him to hit another six - so he did ... even bigger."

In a one-dayer on the same weekend of his debut, the club reported: "Smithy hits his first six in any form of cricket - one day after making his first-grade debut on day one vs Gordon! He smashed 91 to the roars of his teammates and astonishment of all present - even his father Peter".

Fast forward only three years and he would installed as Sutherland's first-grade captain, and in six futher years, captain of Australia.

Smith's father, who has a degree in chemistry and works with pigments and waxes, said on Monday the family were thrilled with his elevation.

"When he rang [on Sunday night] to talk to us, he was excited. He's thrilled with what's happening to him and that comes through to me," Smith senior said.

"I'm also excited by what's happening to him and the fun he's going to have out of doing this."