Rare chance to shine for keeper Doran

Cricket Australia XI youngster Jake Doran is hoping to use this week's tour match against Sri Lanka as a timely reminder to national selectors of his ability.

Doran will turn out for the CA XI in a three-day tour match against the Asian nation commencing in Hobart on Thursday and will use the opportunity to showcase his all-round talent after being selected as the wicketkeeper.

While Doran is mostly known for his ability with the bat, the 22-year-old will don the gloves for a star-studded CA XI side that includes a handful of Test hopefuls. 

The likes of Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne and Will Pucovski will be hoping a strong performance in the day-night contest with the pink Kookaburra ball will help them win a Test berth for Australia during the two-match series against Sri Lanka later this month, and Doran knows he will have to be a little bit more patient before he gets his chance.

But that won't stop him from trying to catch the eye of selectors during the Blundstone Arena clash.

"It is good to be picked in the side with the calibre of guys picked in that team," Doran said on Tuesday.

"It’s a strong team...I think a lot of the guys in it are potential Test players.

"For me I just look at it (the tour match) and take it as an opportunity to try and put my name up (for national selection).

"Hopefully in a few years' time if I am still performing and going well ... that’s what I want to do."

Opportunities with the gloves of late have been few and far between for Doran, with the talented left-hander currently sitting behind Australia captain Tim Paine and former Test gloveman Matthew Wade in the pecking order in Tasmania.

But that hasn't stopped Doran from continually working at his craft, learning all he can from Paine and Wade at training and waiting for an opportunity to take the gloves for his state.

"They are both top notch," Doran said of Paine and Wade.

"The amount of advice and lessons they give me along the way, you just can’t ask for more.

"They are both two completely different players, but you learn things from both of them which is great.

"For me I think it is just about making sure I am doing the right thing 

"If they ask me to keep then I am ready to keep, if I am at No.4 then I am ready to bat four."

Doran was the fifth leading run scorer during last year's JLT Sheffield Shield competition as he amassed a whopping 756 runs for the season at an average of 44.

However his form this season hasn't been as good, with a best score of 33 and a total of 168 runs all he has been able to contribute for a Tasmanian side that has only won twice from six games.

But Doran remains confident some quality time in the middle for the CA XI and a few more appearances for the Hobart Hurricanes will hold him in good stead for a more productive second half of the Shield campaign.

"This little Big Bash period sometimes makes you come back into form," Doran said. 

"I think the last six games I have been a bit unlucky, but also there is a few things I have been working on.

"It's just about getting out there and being hungry for runs."

Cricket Australia XI Squad to play Sri Lanka: Joe Burns (c), Kurtis Patterson (vc), Scott Boland, Jake Doran (wk), Jon Holland, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Will Pucovski, Jason Sangha, Matt Renshaw, Chris Tremain

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha

CA XI: Joe Burns (c), Kurtis Patterson (vc), Scott Boland, Jake Doran (wk), Jon Holland, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, Will Pucovski, Jason Sangha, Matt Renshaw, Chris Tremain

Jan 17-19: Tour match, CA XI v SL, Hobart (D/N)

Jan 24-28: First Test, Gabba (D/N)

Feb 1-5: Second Test, Canberra