Australian rep cricketer Jake Doran juggles sports commitments with HSC at Hills Sports High School, Seven Hills

TALENTED  batsman Jake Doran is set to sit his HSC exams despite missing 29 weeks of school this year while playing cricket for Australia overseas.

Jake Doran, at home in Kings Park, is sitting his HSC at Hills Sports High School, Seven Hills.

TALENTED  batsman Jake Doran is set to sit his HSC exams despite missing 29 weeks of school this year while playing cricket for Australia overseas.

The left-handed batsman and keeper from Kings Park has been hitting the books in between hitting the ball at NSW Blues pre-season training after being given a rookie contract in May.

Jake Doran, at home in Kings Park, is sitting his HSC at Hills Sports High School, Seven Hills.

The 17-year-old also toured India, played in the World Cup under-19s Australian team and took part in a Chairman’s XI game against England in the UK.

He said it had been stressful at times, but his teachers at the Hills Sports High School in Seven Hills had been supportive.

Jake Doran in action for NSW.

“My teachers have been really understanding,” Jake said. “Being at a sports school, teachers understand, but they still want the best educational results. They’ve been great.

“When I’m on tour overseas, it’s hard. It’s lots of emails (to teachers) and I pick up work from school before I go,” he said.

“Almost every day I have to study and I do training when I can. It’s been either a half-day training and half-day study or train for a day and study for a day.”

Jake Doran, pictured as a 16-year-old, represents Australia.

Jake is hoping to get into an IT and marketing course at the University of Western Sydney.

“I’m trying to stay in western Sydney, so I’m looking at UWS, but it depends on next year with cricket,” he said.

“Time management is the key. I can’t spend four hours straight studying so I break it up and do a couple of hours of fitness.

“I work around trying to get it all done.”

Jake hopes to finish the HSC by the end of October.

His brother Luke Doran, 21, just completed his HSC after taking a couple of years out of school to focus on cricket.

Luke is a former NSW Blues squad member. He plays for Sydney Thunder in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.

Jake is seen by many as one of the most talented batsmen to have come through the junior ranks in the past decade.

He caused a storm last season when, as a 16-year-old, he broke Doug Walters’ record as the youngest player to represent the NSW Second XI. He then followed up the feat by signing a rookie contract with the Thunder.