Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test in Perth will see Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald make their Test debuts as Steve Smith’s side unveils a refreshed playing XI. (Image Credit: X/ @triplemcricket)
Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith has created history by picking Brendan Doggett in the playing XI for the first Ashes Test in Perth, where the latter will join Scott Boland to become the first Indigenous pair in an Australian Test XI.
In addition, Jake Weatherald has been given his Test debut and will partner Usman Khawaja at the top. The move underlines a powerful moment for representation in Australian cricket.
Brendan Doggett, 31, is a fast bowler from the Worimi people of New South Wales. He has been brought in after injuries to key bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The right-arm quick has been one of the most consistent performers in domestic cricket, taking more than 190 first-class wickets at an average of about 26.5.
Off the field, Doggett's First Nations heritage adds to his significance: only four Indigenous cricketers before him - Faith Thomas, Jason Gillespie, Ash Gardner and Scott Boland - have represented Australia in Test cricket.
Jake Weatherald is a 31-year-old left-handed hitter from Darwin in the Northern Territory, finally making a long-awaited Test debut. Weatherald's road to the Baggy Green has been anything but orthodox. After a few strong seasons with South Australia, he moved to Tasmania, where his form in the Sheffield Shield caught people's attention as he scored more than 1,100 runs in 18 months at an average of better than 48.
Weatherald has been open about his mental health issues, too. He took time off during his career but came back stronger, for which he was praised for being resilient and mature.
Weatherald first-class record of 5,300+ runs at an average around 37 is testimony to solid, dependable batting. Smith said that Weatherald has “a lot of courage” facing fast bowlers and praised his strong, focused work ethic.
The inclusion of Doggett and Boland is a big step forward regarding Indigenous representation in Aussie cricket. That they are both fast bowlers only reinforces the depth Australia has developed in pace, particularly when top resources such as Cummins and Hazlewood are unavailable.
Weatherald's début on the batting front is a reflection of selectors' faith in his experience, consistency, and temperament. He isn't some raw rookie just starting out; he has years of Shield cricket under his belt and has proved his mettle in pressure games. That stability is particularly important at the opening slot, especially in the high-stakes Ashes series.
Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland
