Australian bowls coach Cameron Curtis believes 16-year-old Kelsey Cottrell could revolutionise the world of bowls.

Cottrell will step out at Tweed Heads Bowls Club from Thursday (17-5) for the next big moment of what is already an impressive international career.

Cottrell burst into the limelight in early 2005 when she beat Karen Murphy and Maria Rigby on her way to winning the Maroochydore Beach New Year Singles trophy. At the time she was just 14.

From Thursday she will join Murphy, the nation’s leading lady of bowls, and fellow Queenslander Julie Keegan as Australia sets out to defeat six tough opponents at the World Team Cup.

In 2005, Cottrell was named in the 'development' section of the Australian Bowls Squad and in November that year, at 15 years-of-age, she became the youngest bowler ever to play for Australia as part of the triples team at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championship.

Cottrell also made history as a member of the Queensland team that won the 2005 National Round Robin in Tasmania.

Curtis, who has watched the Noosa Heads teenager go from strength-to-strength, believes Cottrell has the ability to dominate the sport for decades.

“Kelsey is a phenomenal talent and is continuing to improve,” Curtis said as the Australian team trained at Tweed Heads today (15-5).

“If the desire is there Kelsey can become one of the all time greats of the sport because she has shown such skill at a young age.

“We are seeing a lot of bowlers take up the game earlier, but Kelsey has not only worked hard from a young age, but shown incredible talent and competitive nature.”

Given Cottrell’s success Curtis believes teenagers will take on the sport in greater numbers.

However, Cottrell’s focus for now is solely on the impressive World Team Cup trophy on offer between 17-25 May.

Australia will battle it out with seven teams, including arch-rivals New Zealand and Asian powerhouse Malaysia, at the maiden World Team Cup.

“It’s an exciting event for everyone to be involved in,” Curtis said.

“We’ve got a 16-year-old in Kelsey ready to take on the world and the men’s team has Aron Sherriff, who is 21, making his debut for Australia.

“To see young players like that out there representing their country inspires the other players in the squad and I am sure they’ll do themselves and Australia proud.”

Play begins at 8.00am on Thursday (17-5).

There are a limited number of tickets available to the final days of the 2007 World Team Cup – book today at www.bowlsaustralia.com.au or by calling Bowls Australia on (03) 9819-2722.