PM's XI show puts Dorff in mix

Prime Minister's XI coach Chris Rogers believes pace ace Jason Behrendorff could be well placed for a return to national colours via the T20 format in coming weeks.

Australia are set to take on South Africa in a Twenty20 International on the Gold Coast on November 17 and after witnessing his three-wicket spell against the Proteas on Wednesday in Canberra, Rogers says Behrendorff would "deliver".

"There's no doubt he could do, if he got picked he would do a really good job," Rogers said.

"I see a really intelligent cricketer ... He looks like he's getting better and better as he gets older so I think he'd be one of those picks, if you gave him the ball at any stage, he'd deliver. No doubt if he got the opportunity he would perform."

Between regular injuries, the 28-year-old has been a star with Perth Scorchers in the KFC Big Bash, and last year made his international bow via two T20Is in India.

In the second match, he ripped through the hosts' much-vaunted top order, removing the quartet of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and Manish Pandey for single-figure scores to claim 4-21.

The left-arm quick looked in impressive form yesterday, capturing two wickets in his opening over and going on to claim 3-35 from seven overs.

The selection came after Behrendorff appeared just twice for WA in the JLT One-Day Cup, while he has been ruled out of first-class cricket until next year as his recovery from a serious back injury continues to be carefully managed.

"It's a test of resilience as much as anything, to go through those lows," Rogers added. "He's probably questioned himself and his own career and what he's going to get out of it.

"To keep bouncing back, it says a lot about him and the inner strength he has.

"You like to see players who have really earned it go out and perform really well, and he is definitely one of those players."

Behrendorff told cricket.com.au recently he had considered heading overseas to sharpen his T20 game in an overseas tournament – possibly South Africa – ahead of his return to the BBL, which he missed entirely last summer, however it now looks as though he will stay in Perth and prepare via Premier Cricket.

"If an opportunity presents itself somewhere to play some other high-level cricket ... then I might look to try and jump on that," he said in October.

"But I think at this stage it'll be more club cricket.

"I'll get what I can in Perth and structure a good training program with a bit of cricket and get ready for the Big Bash."

Australia v Proteas, Gillette ODI series, November 2018

First ODI: Perth Stadium, November 4

Second ODI: Adelaide Oval, November 9

Third ODI: Blundstone Arena, Hobart, November 11

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn.