Bolter Brendan Doggett firms to be included in Australia’s World Test Championship final squad

Australia is firming up its plans to defend the World Test Championship final at Lord’s – and they are expected to involve a shock new face.

Unheralded fast bowler Brendan Doggett is firming as a shock inclusion in Australia’s plans to defend their World Test Championship crown at Lord’s.

Doggett has made a strong start for Durham in his English county stint to follow on from his heroics in South Australia’s win in the Sheffield Shield final, and is on the radar for Australian selectors as pace back-up to the big four Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland for the anticipated clash against South Africa at the home of cricket on June 11.

Turning 31 this week, Doggett is uncapped at international level but was drafted into Australia’s Test squad for a couple of matches against India during the summer and has long been a favourite of selectors, who first took him to the UAE in 2018 for a series against Pakistan.

Fourteen of Australia’s 15-man squad for the WTC Final appears set in stone, with a final decision to be made on the final place – most likely a call on whether selectors would prefer a fifth pacer, like Doggett, or a second spinner like Matt Kuhnemann.

Squads have to be submitted to the ICC by May 12.

Brendan Doggett has been making an impact in English county cricket with Durham. Picture: Getty

In many respects it doesn’t matter, because Australia will have two travelling reserves with them as well and with Doggett already being in the UK, it would be surprising if he wasn’t involved in Australia’s preparations to take on South Africa.

Clearly he is a long way behind Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Boland in the pecking order, but for a mid-year Test with no warm-up matches preceding it, Australia’s quicks will be a little green on red ball preparation and having a pacer waiting in the wings who is match fit and in form will be important.

If Doggett breaks through and plays a Test he would become just the third Indigenous man to do so after Jason Gillespie and Boland.

Brendan Doggett (L) could join Scott Boland (R) and Jason Gillespie as the third Indigenous man to play for Australia. Picture: Getty

Doggett has had a deceptively successful domestic career as a winner of three Sheffield Shield titles – two with Queensland and most recently with South Australia.

Australia are likely to take the WTC Final 15 plus another two players to the Caribbean straight after the one-off match for the three Test series against the West Indies.

Kuhnemann is certain to be in the West Indies squad based on his series-winning bowling performance in Sri Lanka and will be relishing the chance to step back into the Test spotlight after having his bowling action cleared by the ICC.

Australia might also take an extra batsman to the West Indies, with Nathan McSweeney and Mitchell Marsh shaping as the two most likely options.

Nathan McSweeney had a tough initiation to Test cricket, but could be back in the fold soon. Picture: Getty

When Australia won the 2023 WTC Final against India, they had Todd Murphy taking that final spot as a spinning back-up to Nathan Lyon.

If selectors are following a similar philosophy then Kuhnemann could be set for WTC selection.

The 15-man squad does not prevent Australia from replacing an injured player, so therefore a travelling reserve could come into the squad or even the XI on the eve of the match if a star was to breakdown on the eve of the Final.

Australia will be desperately hoping Doggett can maintain his impressive form through to the summer because they will once again need a full cartel of fast bowlers operating for the five-Test series against England.

Likely Australian World Test Championship squad: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett/Matt Kuhnemann

Likely Australian squad for the West Indies: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney/Mitchell Marsh

Originally published as Bolter Brendan Doggett firms to be included in Australia’s World Test Championship final squad