Cricket World Cup: Xavier Doherty feels pressure to perform after sneaking into Australia squad

XAVIER Doherty admits he’s likely to miss many of Australia’s World Cup games and reveals he had no idea if he’d make the squad at all.

Xavier Doherty in action during the Australian One-Day squads first training session at the SCG. pic. Phil Hillyard

Xavier Doherty hasn’t been living under a rock.

He knows that his selection in Australia’s World Cup squad was the most hotly debated in an otherwise predictable 15-man line-up.

The left-arm Tasmanian off-spinner has been described as a “safety net” pick, who has got the nod only because Nathan Lyon and a couple of young leg-spinners have failed to take their opportunities.

Doherty is a realist; he knows there are World Cup matches he will be watching from the sidelines and he himself had no idea whether he’d be picked in the squad in the first place.

Xavier Doherty is hopeful of playing some role in guiding Australia to the World Cup title.

But he’s also a proud competitor, and hearing the doubt critics have expressed over his selection has him feeling the pressure a month out from the start of the tournament.

“There probably is, if I was going to be honest,” said Doherty at the SCG on Wednesday.

“Given there was so much speculation about the spinning spot, I probably do feel that expectation to really nail it, and when my opportunity comes to take it.

“I’m under no illusion I probably won’t play every game, and there are probably certain pitches where I’ll be looked at to come into contention. So it’s when I get those opportunities to really nail it.”

Doherty could have got a late call-up to the 2011 World Cup, only injury got in his way.

Since then, Doherty has become a semi-regular member of Australian ODI squads, developing a middling record of averaging 39.18 with the ball.

But if nothing else, Doherty is experienced.

He knows Australian venues, he knows the conditions, he knows the enormous challenge new fielding restrictions pose for spinners and he feels he has a handle on the superstar batsmen he will have to contain if he gets a chance during the World Cup.

“Experience has probably played in my favour,” he admits.

“I’d assume that the fact I’ve been around for a little while now, it’s certainly helped me (get the nod).

“If you look at any spinner the older they get, the better they get. They just seem to learn more about other players and more about the venues they play at.

“You just become a little wiser and become more comfortable the higher you go. I feel like I’m the same, more comfortable in any position I’m put in, and a little wiser for the experience I’ve got.”

It also seems Doherty won’t be complaining if long-time Tasmanian teammate George Bailey captains the Australian side for more than just the tournament opener in Melbourne on February 14.

Doherty says Bailey trusts him more than Michael Clarke, because he knows his game so intimately.

“George and I have known each other for a long time, so he probably gives me a bit more rein than Pup does and knows my game a little bit better so will trust what I can do,” said Doherty.

“George has been captain of this team quite a bit in the last few years as well, so I think everyone’s pretty comfortable under his leadership and I think it will be pretty smooth when Pup does come back into that.”