Doran, Gauci post tons in U19s Ashes

Jake Doran and Jordan Gauci have each posted hundreds on a spectacular opening day for Australia's Under 19s side in the 'youth Ashes' at the Riverside Ground in Durham.

At stumps, Australia were 8-373, with Jhye Richardson adding 87 in quick time to help the tourists to a particularly productive day one. 

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Winning the toss, captain Doran, who has recently signed on with Tasmania, elected to bat despite the overcast conditions and was quickly padding up after Jonte Pattison was dismissed feathering one down the leg side in the third over.

Fellow Tasmanian Caleb Jewell, recently rookie-contracted with the Tigers, consolidated with a classy 37 off 63 before being caught off the leg-spin of Matt Parkinson.

Seventeen-year-old New South Wales batsman Gauci, standing at only 172cm, made the most of his time in the middle, compiling a chanceless 111, including 19 boundaries.

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Jordan Gauci celebrates a century // Getty Images

At the other end, Doran offered up a chance that wasn’t taken by the home side, dropped at cover off the bowling of Parkinson.

Doran, who played against the England Men’s Team for the Chairman’s XI in Alice Springs in 2014, made the most of his second chance, scoring a fine 103 that included a six to get within one of three-figures.

The century makes it the third for Doran in the last seven innings playing for Australia U-19s, accumulating 504 runs at an average of 104 since his first ton against England in Perth earlier in the year.

With the century makers dismissed, Richardson entered at 5-191 and continued the high run rate, hammering 10 boundaries before being caught off the bowling of Parkinson, who claimed 5-85 from 30 overs.

Richardson had little support from the other end though, with Will Pucovski, Fletcher Seymour and Tom Healy dismissed after adding just two runs between them.

“We’re not overly pleased, because if we took our chances it could have been 250 all out,” Parkinson told ecb.co.uk.

“We have high standards in the field and they haven’t been met today – they were way off. We’re pleased with the effort of the bowlers, but 370 is a big score.”

The 'underage Ashes' consists of four ODI matches and a Test match.

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