Cricket fans across Australia and England are bracing themselves for a historic Ashes opener in Perth, where the first Test at Optus Stadium is set to deliver a blend of anticipation, opportunity, and a significant milestone for the sport. With both sides facing major selection headaches and injury setbacks, the series curtain-raiser—beginning November 21, 2025—has already generated more drama off the field than most Test matches manage in five days.
For Australia, the big story is the impending Test debut of Brendan Doggett, a fast bowler whose journey has been anything but conventional. At 31, Doggett is poised to become the 472nd player to don the Baggy Green—and, in doing so, will help Australia make history by fielding two Indigenous players in a Test for the very first time. He’ll join Scott Boland, himself only the second Indigenous man to play Test cricket for Australia, in a moment that resonates far beyond the boundary ropes.
Doggett’s selection comes in the wake of a spate of injuries that have decimated Australia’s vaunted pace attack. Josh Hazlewood, a mainstay of the bowling lineup, was ruled out of the first Test after picking up a hamstring injury during a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales. His absence is compounded by the continued sidelining of captain Pat Cummins, leaving Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland as the most experienced seamers available. The last time Australia played a home Test without both Cummins and Hazlewood in the XI was over a decade ago, but remarkably, the Aussies haven’t lost such a match in 13 years. Still, this is a different Australian side—older, perhaps a bit more vulnerable, and facing more questions than answers as the Ashes get underway.
“He’s one of the quicker bowlers in Australia,” said Jason Gillespie, Doggett’s coach at South Australia and himself a trailblazer for Indigenous cricketers. “Got a good motor, he’s a greyhound and is as fit as a fiddle. He’s ready to go. England will sniff an opportunity (without Cummins and Hazlewood), but I’m confident the Australian seam attack is good enough to get the job done.” According to Gillespie, Doggett’s path to the national team underscores the value of Australia’s local competitions and the importance of perseverance. “His path to a potential Baggy Green is not a common one in the modern game. It just shows the value of our local competitions, plying away and working on your craft.”
Doggett’s rise has been a study in resilience. After dominating for Toowoomba Souths in club cricket and earning a contract with the Queensland Bulls, he made his domestic debut for the Cricket Australia XI in 2016. Injuries slowed his progress, but a move to South Australia in 2021 revitalized his career. Over the past four seasons, he’s been instrumental in transforming South Australia from perennial battlers to Sheffield Shield champions. His 190 first-class wickets, including a memorable six-wicket haul against the Queensland Bulls in March 2025, have been a testament to his skill and determination.
Former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris, speaking on Summer Grandstand, praised Doggett’s evolution and readiness for the Ashes. Harris highlighted Doggett’s pace and ability to swing the ball, qualities that could prove invaluable on a spicy Optus Stadium pitch. Harris also noted the challenges facing other members of the Australian squad, with Travis Head lacking recent red-ball cricket and Spencer Johnson suffering injury setbacks of his own. The selection of Michael Neser as cover further underscores the depth of Australia’s injury woes.
While Doggett’s debut is a feel-good story, England’s camp is buzzing with its own sense of opportunity—and a touch of relief. On a sunny Saturday morning at Lilac Hill, England pace bowler Mark Wood was cleared after hamstring concerns, a development that was quickly overshadowed by Hazlewood’s misfortune. England have not won an Ashes series in Australia since 2010-11, but with Australia’s bowling depth severely tested, this might be their best shot in 14 years.
England’s preparations have been unconventional. Their warm-up match against the England Lions at Lilac Hill featured a flat, lifeless pitch—a far cry from the fiery surface expected at Optus Stadium. Nevertheless, there were bright spots: captain Ben Stokes made a successful return from a shoulder injury, scoring 84 runs and bowling 16 overs, while Ollie Pope responded to his recent demotion as vice-captain with scores of 100 and 90. Jofra Archer, England’s mercurial quick, looked fit and focused, getting the ball to jump off the dead Lilac Hill surface. England’s likely five-man pace attack for the first Test, featuring both Wood and Archer, signals their intent to exploit Australia’s depleted batting and bowling ranks.
Not everything went England’s way, though. Vice-captain Harry Brook failed to impress with the bat, and spinners Shoaib Bashir and Will Jacks, both returning from finger injuries, struggled for rhythm and control. Bashir, in particular, had a rough outing, conceding 151 runs in 24 overs. Still, the England camp remains optimistic, with coach Marcus Trescothick and Stokes backing Pope and the rest of the squad to deliver when it matters.
England’s selectors face their own dilemmas. The debate around the quality and quantity of warm-up matches has been intense, with many observers questioning whether the gentle three-dayer against the Lions provided adequate preparation for the cauldron of an Ashes Test. But with Australia’s best domestic players tied up in the Sheffield Shield, England’s options were limited. As one observer put it, “If this is the best quality England can get, increasing the quantity would have been pointless.”
Beyond the immediate battle, the Ashes opener in Perth will be watched closely for its historical significance. Doggett’s debut alongside Boland marks a watershed moment for Indigenous representation in Australian cricket, a sport that has often struggled to reflect the diversity of the nation. Only Jason Gillespie and Boland have previously played Test cricket for Australia as Indigenous men, while others like D’Arcy Short have featured in white-ball formats. Doggett’s journey, from local cricket in Toowoomba to the international stage, is a reminder of the pathways open to late bloomers and those from underrepresented backgrounds.
As the first Test approaches, both teams are grappling with uncertainty but also opportunity. For Australia, the challenge is to maintain their formidable home record despite missing two of their most reliable fast bowlers. For England, it’s a chance to seize momentum in a series where early success is often decisive. With history, pride, and the Ashes urn on the line, Perth is set for a contest that could shape the narrative of both teams for years to come.
One thing’s for sure: when Brendan Doggett takes the field on Friday, cricket fans everywhere will witness not just a debut, but a moment that will be remembered long after the final ball is bowled.
