Doherty eyeing Oz Test recall for India tour

Sydney: Xavier Doherty is hoping for a recall in the Australian Test team for their upcoming Indian tour after impressing with his performance during the one-day series against Sri Lanka. After not bowling in Australia`s past two one-day matches against Sri Lanka, the left-arm tweaker turned on his best performance last night to help the country level the series 2-2 in front of his home fans.

Doherty snared 3-21 from eight quality overs, ripping the heart out of the top order by removing Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal after the visitors had got off to a flying start in pursuit of the home side`s 5-247, it further reported. Off spinner Nathan Lyon will be a certain starter but with Michael Beer injuring his shoulder the door has been left ajar for Doherty to return to the baggy green for the first time since the Ashes debacle two seasons ago. Doherty said of his performance against Lanka in the Hobart ODI that it was nice to get a bowl, adding he was pretty nervous having not bowled a ball in a game for nearly 10 days I guess. Doherty added he would certainly love to play in the Test team again, and he wasn`t that rapt with how it all went, adding both the formats are completely separate but it`s about keeping my name up there in any format. The left-handed tweaker believes he is a better bowler than what he was when he played Test cricket two years ago and at 30 still quite young as far as an international player goes. Doherty admitted he may not get a chance to prove his form in the Shield format before the national team is selected, but he hopes he gets another shot at Test level. ANI