Quantcast

Doran ready for Shield now: Rogers

Young gun stars for Australia U19s as Test opener likens him to a former England captain

Forget next season, young gun Jake Doran is ready for first-class cricket now says Australia Test opener Chris Rogers.

Rogers is completing his level three coaching certificate with Australia’s U19 boys in Perth where he watched on today as Doran posted 169 on day two of the four-day fixture against England U19’s.

Scorecard: Australia U19's v England U19's

The knock included 19 fours and a solitary six. Rogers feels Doran is ready for the next level and that he sees a strong resemblance to an ex-teammate and former England captain in the diminutive southpaw.

“Jake is ready for Shield cricket right now,” Rogers told cricket.com.au.

“I know this will be a little bit controversial, but I stood down the other end from Andrew Strauss at Middlesex and he has very similar technical characteristics as him (Doran).

“He’s left-handed dominant and he’s a left-hander and quite small.

“And also he’s had comparisons to Mike Hussey, so they’re a couple of good people to be compared with.

“It’s going to be down to him. He’s got the talent and there’s a lot of people pushing him.

“The only currency is runs and when he goes and plays with the men it’s going to be a different challenge altogether. He has an outstanding base."

Image Id: ~/media/28D7509C00E04EF1A9D0F519768819CF

Strauss on the drive for England // Getty Images

Doran’s first crack at the Bupa Sheffield Shield is expected to come later this year after the 18-year-old left New South Wales and signed a two-year deal with the Tasmanian Tigers last month. 

The wicketkeeper-batsman won Cricket Australia XI, Chariman’s XI, and Prime Minister’s XI caps while at the Blues, but insisted the move to the apple isle was about his future in first-class cricket, not financial gain.

"I wanted to make sure I could start my first-class career and push my case forward," Doran told cricket.com.au in March.

"Tassie came with a good offer of an opportunity ... it was a hard decision, but I think for me it was a good one and it was exciting.

"It's a sad move in a way.

"I really wanted to stay (at the Blues) and I wanted to spend my time here, but I think for me and my cricket I had to move on to Tassie and I think it's a good move.

"It wasn't anything to do with money or financial stuff; it just came down to opportunity.

"I thought that in the years to come for me to be playing regularly, that's what it came down to."

Image Id: ~/media/A967E491F13B4AE79C3AAB3A142B4F1E

Look familiar? // Getty Images

Hussey, who captains Doran at the Sydney Thunder in the KFC T20 Big Bash League, is confident the young batman will thrive in the future due to his advanced mental toughness.

“He knows when to attack, when to run the ball, he runs well between the wickets – he’s a smart cricketer,” Hussey told cricket.com.au in January.

“His skills are really good as well, and he’ll get better and better and that’s the exciting thing.

“What a lot of players at that age probably don’t have are the mental capabilities; it takes a long time to learn that stuff.

“Whereas I feel Jake’s already well advanced in that area. He’s quite a smart, savvy player.”

Doran wasn’t the only player to shine on day two at the WACA Ground.

Opening batsman Sam Heazlett combined with Doran to put on 218 at four runs per over for the fourth wicket.

The Queenslader finished with 160 from 218 balls and impressed the watchful Rogers.

“He’s got a lovely swing,” said Rogers.

“He’s a relatively tall batsman and stands up on the ball and hits all the shots.

“He’s a very strong driver through the off-side and likes to pull. Maybe a little bit of a happy hooker at this stage.

“Both (Heazlett and Doran) are exceptionally talented and have a lot of opportunities and scope to do well.”

Australia’s U19 boys declared their first innings at 7-455, and at stumps the Auld Enemy were 0-38 in their second innings, trailing by 245 runs. 

Image Id: ~/media/A94BD8D47C83437E885CE3BCB9884F89

Doran (front row, two in from right) sitting in front of Rogers