CA XI experiment working: Chappell

National Talent Manager Greg Chappell is a big believer in stretching young players against experienced opposition.

And the Cricket Australia XI have backed up his beliefs so far in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup, rising to the challenge against reigning champions New South Wales Blues on Friday.

A superb innings of 97 from Ryan Gibson, plus equally important knocks from skipper Will Bosisto (75), Josh Inglis (54) and Matthew Short (47 off 27 deliveries) got the CA XI within five runs of a huge upset win, chasing a total of 329.

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"When 'Boz' (Bosisto) and myself were out there, we were thinking if we could keep it to under 10 an over going into the last 10 we were a good chance, and hopefully one of us could stay there," Gibson said of the dramatic run chase post-match.

"But both of use got out in quick succession – we just fell a little short but the boys were pretty happy with our performance, and hopefully we're going to win our next game.

"There's a lot of belief. 'Hodgey' (head coach Brad Hodge) wants us to be courageous when we play, and the big thing this year is we all know we're good enough to be in this tournament.

"We're trying to show everyone that we're not just easy-beats, and coming out and making it a close game against NSW shows that."

The CA XI experiment is now into the second year of a two-year trial, across the Matador BBQs Cup, Under 19 National Championships and Under 17 National Championships.

"I'm a big fan of it," Chappell said. "I don't think there's any way that young players are going to get better other than playing, particularly playing against good opposition, and being stretched by that opposition.

"That's what we've seen with the Matador Cup and in the Youth Championships where we've had the CA XIs (younger combined sides playing the various states) playing."

After a narrow loss to Queensland Bulls in their Matador BBQs Cup opener this year, the Tasmania Tigers proved too strong in the CA XI in their second game.

But in game three, against the Blues, the side of developing talent responded, pushing the star-studded Blues to a thrilling final over.

The Blues side featured a host of players with international experience, including Test regulars Nathan Lyon and Peter Nevill, plus Pat Cummins, Grinder Sandhu, Doug Bollinger, Ed Cowan and Nic Maddinson.

Last season in the corresponding fixture, the Blues dismissed the CA XI for 59.

Just four half-centuries were scored during the CA XI's initial Matador BBQs Cup campaign, while in the first three games this year, NSW product Gibson has knocked up scores of 106 and 97, and three more half-centuries have been scored, two of those to skipper Bosisto.

"For me it's a no-brainer. We just have to do it," Chappell said of the CA XI's introduction across the Matador BBQs Cup, Under-19 and Under-17 championships.

"We have to identify our best young cricketers and we have to stretch them as much as we can and play them at a level that's going to challenge them as soon as they're able to do it."