Ashes: Brendan Doggett's Test debut scripts history for Australia
Fast bowler Brendan Doggett made his Test debut for Australia in the opening Ashes match at Perth Stadium on Friday. The right-arm fast-medium bowler has been a regular member of the Test squad in recent times, first during India's tour of Australia last year and then as a reserve for June's World Test Championship final against South Africa. With Doggett in the XI, Australia are fielding two Indigenous cricketers in the same Test team for the first time.
Doggett joins these names
Fellow pacer Scott Boland is the other Indigenous player in the Aussie XI for the Ashes opener. Doggett also became the first Aussie pacer to debut for Australia in Tests since Boland's maiden appearance in Ashes 2021-22. Notably, the former got a chance with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood being unavailable due to injuries. Meanwhile, the only other Indigenous player to play men's Tests for Australia is former pacer Jason Gillespie.
Doggett's FC career and performance
Doggett made his First-Class debut in October 2017 and has since played 50 matches, taking an impressive 190 wickets at an average of 26.5 (5W; 9, 4W: 10). He started his FC career with Queensland, playing four Sheffield Shield seasons before moving to South Australia at the start of the 2021-22 season. His numbers have improved since then, with 110 wickets at 24.5 for South Australia as compared to 56 wickets at a higher average while playing for Queensland.
Doggett's recent form and strike-rate
Doggett's recent form for South Australia has been instrumental in his selection for the Test squad. In Sheffield Shield matches this season, he has taken 78 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 21.7 and a strike-rate of 38.1. Among the 18 bowlers with over 50 wickets in the Sheffield Shield during this period, only Scott Boland (37.5) has a better strike-rate than Doggett.
Doggett's experience against England players
Most of the England players in the touring Ashes squad have not played against Doggett in any format. However, Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue have faced him once each - Bethell in a Big Bash League (BBL) match in January 2025 and Tongue during an England Lions vs Australia A first-class match a month later.
Debut for Jake Weatherald as well
Jake Weatherald, who is set to open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja, is the other debutant in the Aussie XI. Weatherald, who earlier received his maiden Test call-up, entered his debut Test with 5,322 runs from 77 FC matches at an average of 37.47. This includes 40 scores of 50 or more, including 13 tons. His best score reads 198.
Australia's XI for Ashes opener
Australia's XI for Ashes opener: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald , Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.