Australia’s pace depth in focus as Doggett aims for Ashes call
Brendan Doggett’s latest Sheffield Shield performance has put the spotlight back on one of Australia’s most persistent hopes in the pace department. The South Australia quick has spent much of the past year in and around the national Test setup, and now his wicket-laden comeback could be timed to influence Australia’s Ashes selection process after a period of uncertainty about fast-bowling options.
Proving his fitness and form
Doggett’s return to Sheffield Shield action was marked by disciplined line-and-length bowling, with wickets arriving at crucial moments for South Australia. After a challenging period of rehabilitation and limited red-ball opportunities, the bowler has shown both durability and class on the domestic stage. Cricket experts say that, for a fast bowler, maintaining rhythm and pressure is often as important as outright pace, and Doggett has demonstrated both since his comeback began.
Impactful performances against strong opposition
In a season where every state fixture matters for a national selection panel, Doggett’s ability to extract movement and swing in helpful conditions stands out. His older-ball control, combined with late swing, has helped him pick up key wickets and keep runs down—an attribute selectors value when considering bowlers who can handle the elevated demands of Test cricket in the Ashes arena.
Competition and selection dynamics
England’s challenges in the Ashes series always force Australia to weigh a balanced pace attack: two to four quicks who can trouble batters on varied pitches. Doggett sits among a pool of quicks competing for a spot, including players who have spent more time at the Test level and others rising through domestic ranks. The national team’s management has repeatedly stressed the importance of a fresh fast-bowling crop, capable of maintaining pressure across long, hot days of Test cricket. In this context, Doggett’s recent form makes a compelling narrative for a link to the Ashes squad that will be picked in the coming months.
What the selectors will be weighing
Beyond wickets and averages, selectors scrutinize fitness, workload management, and the ability to adapt to different conditions. Doggett’s resilience—recovering from injuries and returning with productive spells—could offer a valuable option should injuries strike or if conditions favor swing over seam movement. A selection panel also considers the broader balance of the attack, including players who can provide control in the first hour and finish with late breakthroughs. Doggett’s ability to deliver both remains a talking point among pundits ahead of the squad announcement.
What a call would mean for Doggett
A selection for the Ashes squad would cap a steady period of persistence for the 29-year-old paceman. It would validate years of hard work since debuting for Australia’s Test side and could open doors for ongoing opportunities in limited-overs formats as well. For Doggett, even a place on the extended squad would serve as an important confidence boost, reinforcing his status as a credible option for future tours and series against top-tier batters.
Looking ahead
As state cricket continues to roll on, Doggett will be judged by how consistently he can translate domestic form to the international stage. With the Ashes selection window approaching, every strong performance gets noted by fans, pundits, and the men in charge. If Doggett can sustain the pace and precision seen in his Shield return, he will keep himself in the conversation for a squad that hopes to defend or reclaim the urn with a well-rounded, pressure-filled bowling unit.
In the end, the question remains: will the selectors trust the comeback story of Brendan Doggett as part of a versatile pace contingent, or will newer options push him down the pecking order? For now, the SA quick is staying focused on his next Shield outing, while supporters await a definitive Ashes decision that could shape his career trajectory for the coming year.
