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Former Test paceman Michael Kasprowicz says Ashes-hopeful Brendan Doggett is ready to answer an Australian SOS if called upon, rubbishing fears the national set-up would be caught reeling from a transition crisis.
Doggett – named in the first Test squad to face England as cover for Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland – showed why he was being groomed as the next fast bowler in line, taking six wickets against Tasmania this week.
A debut could arrive earlier than expected, after Hazlewood and fellow squad member Sean Abbott failed to finish NSW’s Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria. Abbott has been ruled out, while Hazlewood was cleared to play the series opener.
Brendan Doggett continues to push his case for a baggy green.Credit: Getty Images
Doggett’s career has surged since moving from Queensland to South Australia, with his first innings five-wicket haul his second in two matches. Those efforts followed 11 scalps in last summer’s Shield final.
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And Kasprowicz, who took the majority of his 959 career first-class wickets for the Bulls while managing 38 Tests, was confident Doggett would not be overawed should any of the three spearheads join skipper Pat Cummins (back injury) on the sidelines.
“I know the opportunity to be close to [former Test quick and South Australia coach] Jason Gillespie was the inspiration for him to go down there,” Kasprowicz said.
“It was a big move for him, but we’ve certainly seen the benefit of it. Not only is he an athlete, but he makes it look easy, and he keeps coming, which you have to do in Test cricket.”
Doggett would join Gillespie and Boland as the only cricketers of Indigenous heritage to represent Australia in Tests if selected.
A major talking point to come from Australia’s squad was the looming transition period, with Cameron Green the lone member younger than 30.
Starc (35), Boland (36) and Hazlewood (34) are all nearing the end of their careers, while Nathan Lyon (37), Usman Khawaja (38) and Steve Smith (36) are yet to confirm their plans.
But Kasprowicz, who famously combined in a final wicket 59-run partnership with Brett Lee in the 2005 Ashes only to suffer a two-run defeat at Edgbaston, felt the ageing group presented an opportunity for the contingent pushing for their shot to stand out.
“I’m not [concerned] because I just know that the Shield competition is the best in the world, and it gives players the opportunity to perform against fantastic players,” Kasprowicz said.
“I know when I first came into the side there was Carl Rackemann, Craig McDermott, Jeff Thompson was our coach, and then seeing it now where someone like Xavier Bartlett can come into a side – and of course Michael Neser – just shows the talent that’s there.
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“Ultimately, the players today are so much fitter, stronger and faster than certainly we were back then. That’s the exciting part – just have the confidence that talent is going to make its way through.
“The key is to stand out from the crowd by doing well in domestic cricket … there’s the opportunity right now to stand out.”
Of those pushing for higher honours, Queensland’s Matt Renshaw announced himself as Khawaja’s heir apparent by striking 101 in Perth.
The 29-year-old was overlooked for the first Test in favour of Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald, but issued selectors a reminder of his credentials with a second century of the summer.
Renshaw was joined in a 103-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne, whose 50 appears to have sealed his comeback to the Test fold, with Kasprowicz adamant he needed to come in at No.3, rather than as an opener as had been floated.
“Australian cricket’s always had that for a long period of time, we had that guaranteed best batsman batting at three,” Kasprowicz said.
“I reckon there’s a chance for Marnus right now to really secure and make that his spot for many years.”
While Renshaw admitted he was disappointed not to make the Ashes squad, he felt his game was ready to respond to a mid-series call-up.
“There’s a bit of disappointment straight away, but then you realise it’s not the end of the world – you still get to come out and play some cricket over here,” the 14-Test opener said.
“It’s a lot different to the way I handled it eight or nine years ago [when I got dropped] and was absolutely nowhere for a while. I just wanted to enjoy myself today, a little bit of enjoyment and intent was the way I wanted to go about things today, and I felt like I did that.”
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