Mitchell Starc looms as the ‘big dog’ of Australia’s pace attack in Perth this week, but he’s got full confidence in Brendan Doggett who is set to make his Test debut in the Ashes opener on the back of a stunning start to the Sheffield Shield season.
Australia will be without skipper Pat Cummins as he continues to recover from a back injury, while fellow quick Josh Hazlewood won’t play in Perth due to a hamstring strain he suffered while playing for NSW last week.
That’s opened the door for Doggett to earn his first baggy green, with veteran Scott Boland the third member of the pace arsenal that will be unleashed at Optus Stadium.
Cummins and Hazlewood have combined for 604 Test wickets and both sit alongside Starc inside the top 10 Australian wicket-takers, but the left-arm quick is backing the replacements to come in and do the job as the hosts look to retain the Ashes.
“Sadly, injuries in fast bowling happen,” Starc said.
“And it just so happened with two men (going) down heading into the first Test. But good to see the depth in the squad.
“We know what Scotty Boland can do, ‘Doggie’s’ coming off a hot streak at the moment, and ‘Nes’ (Queensland bowler Michael Neser) has been around for a while.”
It remains unclear what the Australian XI will look like on Friday, with the final spot likely down to Beau Webster and Jake Weatherald.
But Doggett does look set to get his chance seven years after he was part of the squad that toured the UAE for a series against Pakistan.
It’s his reward for his hot start to the summer where he’s taken 13 wickets in two Shield games to earn his shot.
“Since then he’s made the change to South Australia, he’s come in red-hot and he’s had a good couple of weeks,” Starc said.
“We all know what he’s capable of and the skills that he presents and being a little bit older than back in 2018 he’s probably a little bit more comfortable.
“He’s been around the group so I’m really excited if he gets his opportunity this week to see what he can do in the Test arena.”
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