Scott Boland expects Brendan Doggett to help inspire a new generation of Indigenous cricketers, as a slice of history beckons for the duo when the Australia XI is named for the Ashes opener in Perth.
The fast bowlers are on the verge of shattering the glass ceiling and becoming the first pair of Indigenous cricketers to be included in the same Australia side as spots open up with Josh Hazlewood joining injured captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines.
Only two of Australia’s 471 men’s Test players are Indigenous – former fast bowler Jason Gillespie and Boland – with Doggett poised to join the all-too exclusive club.
Boland backed Doggett – whose Indigenous heritage traces back on his mother’s side to the Worimi people from around Newcastle – to make an impact on more than just the Ashes if he is selected to face England in the first Test starting on 21 November.
“Hopefully Brendan does get the nod and that happens,” Boland said on Monday about the prospect of two Indigenous players being selected in the same Australia side. “It’ll obviously be really special for him and his family, and the Australian Indigenous community.
“You watch AFL or you watch NRL and there’s numerous [Indigenous] guys who are playing in the same team or playing for Australia. I think it just gives kids a real pathway that they can see that there’s two guys playing, then hopefully they want to take that step into playing cricket because it isn’t as big in the Indigenous communities as AFL and rugby league. Hopefully we can try to shift it.”
An Indigenous side toured England in 1868 as the first squad in any sport to represent Australia overseas, while Boland and Doggett were part of an Aboriginal XI touring party that followed a similar path to commemorate the 150th anniversary.
Gillespie, who previously coached Doggett at South Australia, became the first men’s Test cricketer of Indigenous heritage when making his debut in 1996 and claimed 259 wickets in 71 matches.
Trailblazer Faith Thomas was the first Indigenous player to represent Australia at Test level when lining up against England in 1958, and Ash Gardner is a current star of the women’s red- and white-ball national sides.
Boland – a proud Gulidjan man – has played 14 Tests for Australia after a stunning debut at the MCG during the 2021-22 Ashes series.
The 36-year-old has taken 62 Test wickets at 16.53 to prove he is more than just a useful backup to the “Big Three” of Cummins, Hazlewood and left-arm quick Mitchell Starc.
“You don’t want to be missing two great players like Josh and Pat, but I think our bowling stocks have been really strong for quite a while,” Boland said. “No one’s been able to break in with the resilience of Starcy, Pat, Josh and myself.
“It’s going to be an exciting time because a new guy or two will get a look in, but they’re not inexperienced guys. Brendan’s coming in, he’s 31 years old, he’s played a lot of first-class cricket now, he knows his game.”
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Doggett is firmly in the frame to be handed a baggy green after being selected in Australia’s initial squad for the first Test while Michael Neser has since been added in place of Hazlewood.
The 31-year-old was first included in an Australia Test squad in 2018 but fell back into the pack as a string of injuries took their toll.
Doggett has returned to the front of the fast bowling queue as a standout at first-class level since moving to South Australia in 2021.
The right-armer claimed 33 Sheffield Shield wickets including 11 scalps in the final as South Australia broke a 29-year title drought last season, and has 13 wickets at 14.69 in two first-class matches this summer.
“I think he brings a real skill,” Boland said of Doggett. “He’s a fast outswing bowler and he’s someone who can bowl really long spells, he bowls a lot of overs. When he’s playing for South Australia, he can bowl 20-25 [overs] in a day.
“He’s someone who’s tremendously fit and, if he gets the nod, it’ll be exciting to see him play.”
