Following Brad Hogg's retirement, Xavier Doherty will be keen to press his claims as a potential one-day international spinner having carved a limited-overs niche with Tasmania. He was the state's one-day player of the year in 2006-07, when he collected 11 wickets at 29.72, and was the joint winner of the same award in 2007-08. That season he was one of four men to top the competition wicket tally with 15 at 25.53, including 4 for 18 in the final as Tasmania secured the limited-overs trophy. The repeated successes earned him a place in the Australia A one-day team that toured India in 2008 and he was picked for his first taste with the national side for a Twenty20 match against an All-Stars team in November 2008. His handy lower-order batting adds to his limited-overs value and his first hint of potential higher honours came when the national selectors named him in the preliminary 30-man squad for the 2008 Champions Trophy, which was ultimately postponed.

Big things were expected of Doherty, a left-arm orthodox spinner, after he starred at the Under-19 World Cup and was given a Tasmanian debut at 19 in 2001-02. Since then he has struggled for lasting impact in the Pura Cup but with slow-bowling positions opening up in the Test squad, he will also be desperate to win back his place in Tasmania's first-class team. A 2001 Academy graduate and Prime Minister's XI representative in 2004, Doherty was not used in the Pura Cup in 2007-08 as Jason Krejza was preferred and he must reduce his first-class average a long way below its current mark of 56.23 to get more regular opportunities in the longer format.
Cricinfo staff November 2008