CA XI stint pays off for Vics quick

Boom quick Jackson Coleman has credited his maiden five-wicket haul for Victoria in part to his time spent with the Cricket Australia XI last summer.

Coleman took a career-best 5-39 against NSW yesterday, including the key wickets of skipper Kurtis Patterson and allrounder Moises Henriques, in Victoria's 66-run JLT One-Day Cup win at North Sydney Oval.

The 26-year-old left-armer has played eight List A matches but only four for Victoria, two matches either side of stint with the CA XI in 2017.

The CA XI, introduced to the domestic one-day tournament in 2015, was a team composed of the nation's best young talent and fringe state players who were able to play against the six state sides with the aim of collecting invaluable experience at domestic level.

While the side managed only two wins in 18 games across three seasons before the concept was scrapped this summer, it gave players like Coleman a chance to play and develop their game in elite competition instead of watching on from beyond the boundary.

"I loved it," Coleman told cricket.com.au. "I had a great month. I couldn't speak more highly of it.

"I know people saw it as taking the mickey out of the comp a little bit but I'm all for it.

"Being underdogs was good as well. You could try things and really just take the game on.

"I really got a lot out of it and the opportunity to open the bowling, where as I would have been on the sidelines with Victoria running the drinks or not even in the squad.

"To get that opportunity last year has held me in good stead for this year."

Making Victoria's JLT Cup squad and playing in the tournament proper were Coleman's first two goals this summer.

His next target is to play JLT Sheffield Shield cricket and says he's been paying close attention to the fast-bowling brotherhood at the Vics, which boasts an impressive collection of international experience.

Peter Siddle, Scott Boland and Chris Tremain have all played for Australia, along with retired allrounder John Hastings and the uncontracted Dan Christian in seasons past, and Coleman has been a sponge around his senior peers.

"I've learnt a lot," he said.

"It's been frustrating at times because of the lack of opportunity but on the other hand just having them at training has been awesome.

"The way they go about things has really held me in good stead and made me ready to go when I did get my opportunity.

"Chris Tremain, I've had chats with him about bowling and he's been great and how he goes about it.

"He's pretty in depth with his analysis and his outlook on cricket."

Victoria's next match is against Western Australia on their home turf of Junction Oval on Wednesday.