Brendan Doggett is on the verge of achieving a dream few expected – making his Test debut for Australia in the first Ashes Test, which began on November 21 against England in Perth. The speedster is now in line to become Australia’s 472nd Test cricketer. He is only the third Indigenous man to play Test cricket for Australia, after Gillespie and Scott Boland.
If he makes his debut, Doggett’s selection will also have historical significance. If he and Boland take the field together, it would be the first time two Indigenous players have appeared in the same Australian Test side. Doggett has roots in the Worimi Nation and has previously spoken of reconnecting with his Aboriginal heritage in his twenties. His rise has been welcomed by indigenous communities as a sign that opportunities in elite cricket are expanding.
In Australia, the term “Indigenous” generally refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – the original inhabitants of the continent. The commonly accepted definition includes three elements: to be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, to identify as such and to be recognized by the community.
BRENDAN DOGGETT Stands up
At 31, his path was far from conventional. He never made it through the elite junior systems; instead, he worked as a carpenter in Toowoomba while playing country cricket, slowly building a reputation for strong performances. With injuries to senior fast bowlers creating opportunity, Doggett is expected to don the national colors in Perth.
Also Read: 1st Unofficial Test: Australia A’s Doggett picks 6 wickets to beat India A for 107
Jason Gillespie, who coached him in South Australia, praised Doggett’s work ethic and fitness, describing him as a “greyhound” and fully ready for the challenge of Test cricket.
DOGGETT SEPTEMBER IN THE HOUSEHOLD
Brendan Doggett carved out a strong domestic career as a fast and medium bowler. He has played 50 first-class matches to date, taking 190 wickets at an average of 26.46 with best figures of 6/15. In List A cricket, he has 26 wickets from 17 matches at 35.80.
In the Big Bash League, where he represented the Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder, Doggett took 43 wickets in 48 matches at an average of 28.74 with a best figure of 5/35.
After starting his career in Queensland, he later moved to South Australia and produced one of the outstanding performances of his career in the 2024–25 Sheffield Shield final. His match figures of 11/140 were instrumental in securing South Australia’s first Shield title in 29 years.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
November 17, 2025
