Brendan Doggett Ready for Big Chance in Ashes Test Debut

Brendan Doggett has spent years working hard in Australian domestic cricket, slowly building a name for himself. What makes his story even more special is that he is also a qualified carpenter who once balanced building houses with dreams of playing Test cricket. Now, at 31 years old, Doggett finally stands close to making his Test debut for Australia in the Ashes series against England. For someone who once worked quietly on construction sites, this moment feels like a new life and a huge achievement.

Doggett was not always in the spotlight. He spent many years on the edges of the Test squad, always hoping but never getting the final call. However, injuries in the Australian fast-bowling unit have now opened the door for him. He is expected to join Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland in the pace attack for the first Test in Perth. Even Doggett himself admits that this chance felt far away not so long ago. Yet now, he might walk onto the field as one of Australia’s Test bowlers in one of cricket’s biggest series.

Speaking to reporters in Perth, Doggett said it is hard to feel fully “ready” for Test cricket because the challenge is so big. However, the past 18 to 24 months have been the most successful period of his career. He has taken more wickets, stayed strong physically, and built confidence in his bowling. These improvements have come at the perfect time, helping him grab this opportunity when it finally arrived.

Before reaching this point, Doggett lived a very different life. He worked as a carpenter in the Queensland town of Toowoomba, often doing carpentry jobs while playing country cricket and training whenever he could. His old friends from those days—other tradies he worked with on building sites—have been sending him messages of support. For Doggett, the dream back then was simple: play country cricket, work as a carpenter, and enjoy that life. He even said he loved putting on the tool belt and building houses. Everything that has happened since then, he says, feels like a bonus.

If Doggett plays in the Ashes Test, he will become only the third Indigenous Australian to play Test cricket. The others are fellow pace bowler Scott Boland and former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who has also been a mentor to him. Boland’s own Test debut against England in the 2021/22 Ashes was unforgettable, where he took seven wickets in the Boxing Day Test and destroyed the English batting lineup. Now, he hopes Doggett can share a similarly special moment.

Indigenous athletes in Australia are strongly represented in sports like Australian Rules football (AFL) and the National Rugby League. However, not many make it to the highest levels of cricket. Scott Boland said it would be powerful for Aboriginal communities to see both him and Doggett playing in the same Test XI. He hopes it encourages more young Indigenous players to dream about cricket and believe they can succeed.

Despite the big opportunity ahead, Doggett remains humble. He still remembers the days when cricket was just a dream and carpentry was his real job. Now, with a possible Test debut approaching, he sees himself as fortunate. “This is all just a bonus,” he said, knowing that very few players get such a chance after coming from such a different life path.

Brendan Doggett’s story is one of hard work, patience, and belief. From building houses in Toowoomba to preparing for a debut in the Ashes, his journey shows how life can change unexpectedly. If he gets the chance to play in Perth, it will be a proud moment for Australian cricket, Indigenous communities, and everyone who has supported him along the way. Whether he takes wickets or simply enjoys the occasion, Doggett has already achieved something extraordinary.