A new chapter is about to be written in Australia’s cricket history. For the first time in nearly one and a half centuries of Test cricket, two Indigenous players — Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett — are set to take the field together in the same match. This historic moment will be seen in the first Ashes Test starting Friday in Perth.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to injury, an opportunity opened up for Doggett. In the XI announced on Thursday, it was confirmed that the 31-year-old pacer would be receiving his Test cap. Boland’s place in the team was already confirmed.
After Jason Gillespie, Australia did not see another Indigenous cricketer in the national team for 15 long years. That void was filled by Scott Boland, who stunned the cricket world by taking 6 wickets for just 7 runs on debut in the 2021 Boxing Day Test. So far, he has taken 62 wickets in 14 Tests.
Now Doggett joins him, having taken 190 wickets in 50 first-class matches. With his inclusion, Australia’s total number of Test cricketers will stand at 472.
Opener Jake Weatherald is also making his debut in the same match. The left-handed batsman, who has scored over 5,000 runs with 13 centuries in 77 first-class games, will open the innings alongside Usman Khawaja.
The last time Australia had two debutants in the same match was in 2019 against Sri Lanka; and the last time this happened in an Ashes match was in 2011.
Meanwhile, the all-rounder position had been the most-discussed topic during team selection. The selectors have opted to trust Cameron Green over Beau Webster, as Green has recently returned to bowling after recovering from a back injury.
