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Chappell sees only positives for CA XI

Former Australia captain says he can't understand the negativity surrounding the composite side

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell says he can only see positives in the Cricket Australia XI’s maiden Matador BBQs One-Day Cup campaign despite the composite side’s horror start to the tournament.

The CA XI, comprised of the best young talent and fringe state players from around the country, suffered the two heaviest defeats in the competition’s history to begin their campaign.

Headed by Bupa National Cricket Centre head coach Troy Cooley, the CA XI were blown away by rampant fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson in their matches against New South Wales and Victoria respectively, but a nail-biting, three-run win over Tasmania last Saturday quashed suggestions the young team, whose average age is 21, was out of their depth. 

Watch: CA XI secure maiden Matador Cup win

Chappell, who now works as CA’s national talent manager, was impressed with the CA XI’s attitude after the trying start to the series.

"It was a gutsy effort at the best of times but especially after what they'd been through," Chappell told Fairfax media. "They got a bit of a shock in the first couple of games and would've been as disappointed as anybody.

“I missed the first two games because I was in Brisbane for the Under 17 national championships but I was pleasantly surprised by the spirit in the group.

“They were still upbeat and talking positively about what they wanted to do and went out and backed it up (against Tasmania) with a gutsy performance." 

Highlights: watch the nerve-racking final over

Following the early hammerings, questions were raised about the quality of the CA XI and their ability to compete with seasoned cricketers without experienced players of their own.

Calls were made for veterans to be added to the juvenile squad which will compete in the Matador Cup on a two-year trial.

But Chappell says he was perplexed by the negativity surrounding the CA XI’s first-up losses, believing the only way for these players to improve is to face the music out in the middle, just as he did in his formative years.

"I just don't get it, I only see positives," Chappell responded. "Whatever happens in this tournament, there'll be three or four kids who'll come out the other side as better players because they'll have seen what the better players do; they'll have seen how they prepared and (the CA XI) would have found themselves in pressure situations and had to have found ways to deal with it.

"What we have to accept is they played the two toughest teams in the first two games.

"Mitchell Starc is one of the best players in world cricket, (New Zealand captain) Brendon McCullum barnstormed his way through the World Cup and looked like the best player ever until he came up against Mitchell Starc.

"James Pattinson, as well. He bowls around the 150 kph mark, and that's why they have to play in these tournaments, if they're going to make it to the highest level of the game they'll face bowlers of that speed.

"As a player I didn't know how to handle fast bowling until I was subjected to it."

The CA XI’s next match is against last-placed Western Australia who are in desperate need of a bonus point if they are to stay alive in the competition and defend their title.