Beard's fledgling career is still in its infancy and there is no suggestion he is ready for the demands of international cricket.
But make no mistake: the 21-year-old is at the beginning of what promises to be a very bright career. And he is, perhaps, the heir apparent to Vettori.
A polite, well-spoken and intelligent young man, Beard knows exactly where he wants to be in five years' time, and that is in the Black Caps.
The Albion club spinner is still very much making his way in domestic cricket and has a lot a hard work ahead of him to turn that dream in to a reality. But left-arm spinners are worth their salt.
Five of the six major associations have a lefty as their leading wicket-taker. Theories vary as to why that type of bowler has been so successful over the years.
Some say it is not as taxing on the body, so spinners can get through more overs and remain in the game longer.
Then there is the angle. Left-armers take the ball away from right-handed batsmen, bringing the slips into play more often. And New Zealand's conditions have played a part, dishing up a steady supply of slow wickets which make strokeplay difficult.
Whatever - Beard just wants to get amongst it. He made his first-class debut at the end of the 2008-09 season and took one for 133 from 42 overs on a featherbed at the Queenstown Events Centre. He backed up the following week with none for 56 from 15 overs. Not the greatest start but he stuck to his work and made a positive impression on the right people.
The Otago selectors saw potential and backed Beard, offering him a provincial contract last summer. He repaid their faith, playing in all 10 of Otago's Plunket Shield matches and taking 27 wickets at 38.25. A solid rather than spectacular return, but those statistics do not paint the complete picture.
What the numbers do not reveal is how well he bowled when he was called on to do something special. That moment came against Auckland.
The visitors were on track to snatch a fine victory but Beard intervened, taking six for 107 from 36.5 overs. It was heart-in-the-mouth stuff watching him float the ball and entice the batsmen into mistakes.
It did not always go his way. He got clobbered to the boundary plenty but he kept his cool and persisted with the game plan.
He also got some assistance from the pitch and, in particular, the footmarks. But it was a fine display and a performance which Beard said gave him plenty of confidence, especially considering his tough introduction to first-class cricket.
" I was really nervous when I was starting off but I got a lot more comfortable [midway through last season] and started to relax a little bit," he said.
"But it wasn't until I got six wickets against Auckland that I thought to myself I could actually take wickets at this level. I see that game as a major turning point.
"It was such a big step up. The batsmen would punish every bad ball I bowled. But it was good for me. It wouldn't have been good if I rocked up and took a five-for and thought 'how easy is this?' I had to improve my game and I learnt the standard I needed to be at to perform at this level."
The encouraging news of a spinner taking wickets on the last day to help win a match was well received by the national selectors, who rewarded the former New Zealand Under-19 representative with a spot on the New Zealand A tour of Zimbabwe.
Beard played just the one match in the month-long tour - the opening four-dayer against Zimbabwe A. But it was a valuable learning experience and he bowled well in his only outing, taking four for 87 in the first innings and one for 56 in the second innings.
He is hoping that experience will stand him in good stead for what shapes as a big summer. Beard's place in the Plunket Shield side is fairly secure but he would like to cement spots in the twenty/20 and one-day teams.
"It is a big year for myself and obviously for the team as well. In terms of the Plunket Shield, we have to look at improving our position on the competition table. The last few seasons have been a bit disappointing and with the calibre of players down here we should definitely be doing a lot better.
"And the one-dayers last year were a major disappointment, so we need a big improvement there. But we've been quite successful at twenty/20 and are just looking to continue on with that," he said.
Otago shapes as a strong contender in the HRV Cup with the likes of Black Caps Brendon and Nathan McCullum adding real punch to the batting line-up.
Sussex batsman Chris Nash and Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens join Otago for the month-long tournament, and with Neil Broom, Craig Cumming and Aaron Redmond also in the squad, Otago boasts a powerful batting line-up.
South African-born left-armer Neil Wagner will spearhead a bowling attack which features experienced duo Warren McSkimming and Ian Butler and relative newcomer Anthony Bullick.
Promising all-rounder Sam Wells had a breakout season last summer and is expected to feature prominently during the Plunket Shield campaign. Wells took 21 wickets at 24.42 and scored 478 runs at 59.75 in seven matches.
Wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder equalled the world record for catches in an innings with eight catches in Otago's last Plunket Shield match for the summer. He will be looking to enhance his growing reputation as a safe gloveman.
Otago just missed a place in HRV Cup last season and played some good cricket. But the Volts were disappointing in the one-day tournament, finishing fifth and paid for a poor start in the Plunket Shield, finishing fourth.
Otago cricket - 2010-11
• Coach: Mike Hesson.
• Captain: Craig Cumming.
• Squad: Nick Beard, Darren Broom, Neil Broom, Anthony Bullick, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Derek de Boorder, Shaun Haig, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Warren McSkimming, Chris Nash*, Aaron Redmond, Darren Stevens*, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells.
* Available for HRV Cup only.
