The improving 17-year-old from George Town has stood out on Tasmanian home wickets during the under-19 national championships.

Freeman has been in the frame for national selection over his right-arm offbreaks for more than 18 months.

But Cooley sounded out that distinct inroads into Freeman’s batting has begun to shore up his case for next month’s 50-over tournament held in New Zealand.

“I just think everyone’s surprised of how his batting has improved so much,” Cooley said. “But I think Jarrod is not surprised though – he’s probably been working so hard on it.

“We put out a list a couple months ago of players that we were keeping our eye on and he was on that list then – and he’s doing very well.”

Freeman was announced in Cricket Australia’s preliminary 28-man youth squad and stellar performances at the nationals have done his chances no harm ahead of a first World Cup campaign.

The middle-order batter is yet to fail in any of his five matches, notching up scores of 53, 10 not out, 35, six not out amid the latter overs before compiling a tournament-best 83 off a promotion up the order on Sunday.

Cooley is keen to push the Mowbray clubman – the side the one-time Sheffield Shield quick started out his career – into the minds of respective selectors Greg Chappell and Graham Manou.

“I am just one of three selectors and we also have a big input from the national talent managers,” Cooley said.

“We’re about to have a meeting halfway through the tournament to make sure everyone is on track and we haven’t missed anybody.

“His name, no doubt, will be talked about a lot at the selection table.”

Freeman can add a list of strong bowling spells resulting in seven wickets and just a 3.58 runs-per-over economy rate to help his cause.

He had proved to be the only Tasmanian earmarked for an Australian one-day cap prior to the under-19 titles.

But state teammate Jack White has crashed into the selectors’ reckoning over the past week.

The North Hobart batsman has made the third most runs so far, scoring 220 runs at 55 with two half-centuries. 

Cooley, who was appointed head coach of Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane seven years ago, returned home to watch three rounds of the under-19 titles back in Launceston.

The 52-year-old, one-time England fast bowling coach said most on the preliminary list have been tracked since playing state under-16 level.

“I’m making sure they are all ticking the boxes, but the doors are open for anybody here to do well and get onto that final list,” Cooley said.

“Nothing is given that you’re going to make it - you still have to perform, but we also take into consideration the performances of yesterday. They don’t just become bad players overnight...but the doors are still open to make a contribution.”