'Veteran' Doran leading from the front for U19s

From young gun to senior statesman – relatively speaking – Australia Under 19 star Jake Doran says the shoe is on the other foot this time around.

Doran played in the Under-19 World Cup as a 17-year-old – he was Austrlaia's leading run-scorer, hitting 249 runs at 83 in five matches. England won the third-place play-off by a solitary wicket with two balls remaining.

This time around, Doran has been in imperious form for Australia against England's U19 boys, averaging 138.5 in all formats throughout the series.

The diminutive left-hander has played under Mike Hussey at the Sydney Thunder last summer, was captained by Chris Rogers in the Prime Minister's XI in January and battled England as part of the Chairman's XI in November 2013 in his short yet accelerating career.

But at 18, with all the representative honours, Doran says he's now looked up to in the squad, and is happy to share what he's learned along the way.

"There are a lot of guys younger than me … I'm normally the youngest in the group," Doran told cricket.com.au.

"There's a lot of younger guys in the group that I feel that do (look up to him).

"In that way I'm more than happy if they come up with a question.

"It feels like 'jeez, now I'm the one on the other hand here in this group'.

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Doran during the 2014 U19 World Cup // ICC

"The information that I've been passed on I'm happy to let them know as well and show them the mistakes I've made along the way.

"I suppose there is a little bit of pressure behind it, but the only pressure there is is the pressure I put on myself."

Doran's pursuit of a Baggy Green is set to take its biggest step next summer after he penned a two-year deal with the Tasmanian Tigers.

While the decision to move from Sydney to Hobart has generally been applauded, Doran was criticised in some circles for leaving NSW after investing so much time and development in to the batting prodigy.

But Doran says choosing Tasmania, a place where he's rarely visited, lifted a weight off his shoulders and understands why it could have ruffled a few feathers in the process.

"With my decision there was always going to be criticism," Doran said.

"If I did stay at New South Wales the other states would have said something.

"And now that I have gone to Tassie there was always something going to be said. People are always going to judge you on what you do."

One person who moved states and has enjoyed a lengthy tenure in Test cricket is U19 assistant coach and Test opener Rogers.

Rogers is with the squad completing his level three coaching certificate, and said earlier this month after Doran scored 169 in the four-day fixture in Perth that the young southpaw was ready for first-class cricket "right now".

But for now, Doran is playing the role of the sponge around the Test players and support staff, absorbing their advice and applying it to his own game with great effect.

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Henry Thornton bowls against England U19s // cricket.com.au

"It's awesome having him around. He's worked very hard at what he's done to get to where he is," Doran said.

"He's just told me his story and the mentality he's taken to get to where he is. Listening to something like that makes you want to make sure you do everything right and perfect and have the meaning to what you're doing.

"When you go in there it's not just a normal net session, you're actually trying to get something out of it.

"Every time you go in there, another hour or another few more balls that you hit other than someone else on the other side of the world or in your own area or wherever you are playing cricket, he just said make sure you're doing it right.

"When you take that information in from a guy like him you're glad that you've got someone like that to talk to about that.

"You've got GC (Greg Chappell) and Hicky (Graham Hick) here as well, even Truck (Troy Cooley), they all know their stuff, it's just a matter of taking it in and using it.

"You have all the information, it's just recalling it and using it and backing yourself. That's the main thing Bucky said, when you go in there to play your game just back yourself.

"You know you've done the work and you haven't cut and corners.

"Funnily enough, it's pretty similar to working with Jacques Kallis this year. He said the exact same thing. It is definitely something that is related across all cricketers that I've talked to."

And there are no signs of slowing down for Doran.

After the five-match one-day series concludes against England U19s, Doran flies out to England to play league cricket before returning home in July to begin his pre-season with his new state.

If all goes well, Doran will then return to the UK for the Australia U19 tour at the end of July and August.