ATTACK FORMATION

IN-FORM batsman Jake Doran says the Allan Border Field can be a flat track, but has backed the Tasmanian Tigers’ bowling attack to roar against Queensland in the Sheffield Shied final there starting on Friday.

TASMANIA has the No. 1 bowling attack in the Sheffield Shield heading into the final against Queensland on Friday and is capable of getting a result despite the Allan Border Field’s notoriously flat pitch.

Tasmanian batsman Jake Doran says the team heads to Brisbane on Wednesday full of confidence that its bowlers can get the job done on what is expected to be a “road”.

By finishing on top of the shield table, Queensland needs only a draw in the final to claim the title.

“We’ve got five days to do it and with the Dukes ball it’s a luxury that the bowlers have that the ball is so inconsistent with what it does,” Doran said yesterday.

“Sometimes it swings, then it doesn’t, then it swings massively or seams. The pitch up there can be flat sometimes, but if we bowl our areas and keep doing what we’ve done to get here, our bowling side is capable of doing it.

“That’s one thing we are confident in.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have Jackson Bird, Sam Rainbird has been exceptional this year and so was Gabe Bell at the start, and now Fekete is on fire and Tom Rogers has been able to chip in when he’s needed.”

Tasmania’s blueprint was to blood young players and build into a competitive team over the next two or three seasons.

Doran said the side was two years ahead of the plan.

“The plan was for our young guys to be able to play consistently, and in the next two or three seasons to be able to put those consistent performances together to build a strong team,” he said.

“We’ve been able to turn it around pretty quick and win games for Tasmania.”

Since resuming after the break for the Big Bash, Tasmania has won three games, drawn one and lost one — to Queensland at the Gabba by 206 runs.

This time they meet at Allan Border Field, where Doran has vast experience, having attended the cricket centre of excellence since he was aged 14.

“I spent the pre-season there this season as well, so it’s fair to say I’ve had my fair share of cricket at Allan Border Field,” he said.

“It’s my first shield final and everyone is pretty excited.”