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Daring to dream: Next man in Doggett on baggy green hopes
Lachlan Geleit • November 15th, 2025 2:34 pm
Australian Test squad member Brendan Doggett is daring to dream about a potential international debut this summer.
The 31-year-old South Australia quick has been electric to start this Sheffield Shield season, taking two five-wicket hauls from his two games so far this campaign.
That strong form and some fitness under his belt led to his selection in the Aussie 15-man Ashes squad for the first Test, and many see Doggett as the next man in after Pat Cummins went down with a back injury.
Even though he’s unlikely to play in Perth unless another injury occurs, Doggett does admit the thought of getting a baggy green at some stage this summer has been crossing his mind in the past week.
“I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it … does come across the mind a little bit every now and then when you've got some downtime,” Doggett said on SEN Afternoons.
It was only on Wednesday when Doggett’s chances of playing skyrocketed, with Josh Hazlewood exiting New South Wales’ Shield clash against Victoria with a hamstring complaint.
Thankfully, Hazlewood was cleared of any injury, and while it now most likely means Doggett will remain on the sidelines, he was thrilled to see his teammate escape any concern.
“You don't want to see anyone getting injured before an Ashes series, especially not Hazlewood,” Doggett said.
“He's been bowling beautifully in the white-ball series leading into this, so I think he's going to be a big part of the summer for Australia.”
Even though this is the closest Doggett has ever felt to a Test debut, it’s not the first time he’s been in selection considerations, having made his first Test squad back in 2018, early into his career with Queensland.
Since then, Doggett moved to South Australia before the start of the 2021/22 summer, where he reignited his career after repeated soft tissue and stress fracture injuries.
Having overcome those health concerns, Doggett has never had more confidence in his body and ability.
“I sort of hit the ground running in my first season of Shield cricket, we won the shield with Queensland, and I ended up on a tour with the Australian Test team,” Doggett said.
“From there, it was a bit of a rough road. I had a lot of stress fractures and then soft tissue injuries. It’s fair to say that probably the last six years for me have been a bit of a battle with the body.
“I feel like I'm in a really good place now, and it's just all come together at the right time.
“I've got confidence in my body. It's the best I've ever felt. It's the best I've ever bowled.”
Even though it’s been an up-and-down journey, Doggett wouldn’t change a thing so far.
While he’s happy with his career so far, a baggy green and an opportunity at Test level would definitely top things off.
“Like I said, it’s been a journey, but I wouldn't change anything,” Doggett said.
“If the opportunity does come, or even if it doesn't, I'm really satisfied with what I've done in my career. I feel like I’ve done a lot in my domestic career.
“So, if I got the opportunity to play Test cricket for Australia, it’d really top it off.
“I feel really proud to be part of this group, and to be in a 15-man squad is pretty amazing, I never thought I’d be here, to be honest.”
Listen to Doggett’s full chat with Adam White below.
