These kids are a lot better than that: Coach

Cricket Australia XI coach Troy Cooley denies his young side will be scarred by their record-breaking defeat in their Matador Cup debut in Sydney today.

The CA XI, playing their first-ever match in the domestic one-day tournament, were thrashed by a powerful NSW Blues side at Bankstown Oval, losing by 279 runs.

It is the biggest margin of victory in the 46-year history of the competition, smashing the previous mark of 219 set 17 years ago.

The CA XI is a composite group of young players from around the country, many of whom have state contracts but missed out on selection in their state's 14-man squad for the Matador Cup.

The group has an average age of just 21 and all have been identified as players who could be fast-tracked through the system via exposure against top-quality opposition from a young age.

And the fledgling side learnt some valuable lessons on a stifling hot day in Sydney's west, routed for just 59 in reply to NSW's total of 3-338

Match report: Aussie stars lead Blues to record win

Cooley admitted his side had plenty of work to do before Wednesday when they take on a strong Victorian team featuring 11 international players, but dismissed the suggestion that the heavy defeat would have an adverse effect on their psyche.

"No, these kids are a lot better than that," Cooley said. "They know they're a lot better than that.

"They've just got to come back mentally to be ready to come against another strong team on Wednesday.

"Of course you want to be able to be strong and you want to be able chase down or at least look like you're going to chase down a target.

"I think they've got some things that they need to go away and work on and I think that's just mentally. Skilfully, I think they're good enough to do it.

Test captain Steve Smith hits a century at Bankstown (video has no audio)

"They're already playing in (state) squads, they're already doing things like that. So we'd like to see them freshen up, come back and get their minds right and put up a battle against the Victorians."

The Blues, bolstered by the return of their Test stars following the postponement of the tour of Bangladesh, included a remarkable 10 players with international experience in their side.

Australian captain Steve Smith (143 not out) and Nic Maddinson (108) both blasted centuries after the Blues won the toss before Mitchell Starc, the world's No.1 ranked ODI bowler, picked up 6-25 to help rout the CA XI for the lowest-ever score against NSW in the history of the domestic one-day cup.

Image Id: ~/media/53CCEEA0BB39439F949286912E545C32

The CA XI players during their stint in the field // Getty

Watching on at a ground that houses a stand boasting his name, selector and former Test batsman Mark Waugh said he was excited to get a closer look at the future generation of Australian cricketers.

Speaking before the CA XI's innings got underway, Waugh admitted there was always the risk that a young side would suffer some heavy defeats against top-quality opposition, but said the matches would be a good test of character.

"I guess there's that possibility that some of these games could be one-sided," Waugh said.

"But (Cricket Australia's National Talent Manager) Greg Chappell was pretty confident that the CA XI will more than hold their own so we'll have to wait and see on that one.

Image Id: ~/media/478BBA117676414EA92AF9F481D641E0

Mitchell Starc and NSW celebrate their victory // Getty

"It's not going to be easy because obviously we've got players coming in from the Bangladesh squad who are going to strengthen their state teams even more.

"But there's only one way to find out and that's to give them the exposure by playing in high pressure games against quality players. You find out which players might stand up for the future.

"When you're playing top level cricket it's a test of your character.

"I'm sure there's some players who are going to be nervous. But that's just the nature of the game.

"You've got to start somewhere so why not start against top quality opposition."

The CA XI had an interrupted build-up to the tournament with several changes made to the squad on Friday following the postponement of the Bangladesh series and the return of Australia's Test stars to their various state teams.

Nick Maddinson hits centur against CA XI (video has no audio)

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jimmy Peirson was named in the initial CA XI squad on September 24 before being drafted into the Queensland squad a day later when star Bulls batsman Chris Lynn was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Peirson was then shifted back into the CA XI group on Friday when Test batsmen Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns returned to the Bulls side following the postponement of the Bangladesh tour.

The CA XI group went into camp for the first time on Friday and Cooley has been impressed by their ability to bond together so early in the tournament.

"It's a great spirit," Cooley said. "That's the Australian way. The Australian teams do that all the time.

"(It's) first up for this group, they have to get to know each other a little bit more. But they've played and trained together.

"There's a little bit of a settling period but they're all good, they're all up for it.

"So we're just looking to put this one behind us now and then come up fighting on Wednesday."

Image Id: ~/media/767BFB8D371B4E67A1CEB97A2191EE61

Matt Dixon opened the bowling for the CA XI // Getty