Australia Debuts Doggett and Weatherald, Smith Rejects Panesar’s Sledge

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Australia Debuts Doggett and Weatherald, Smith Rejects Panesar’s Sledge

Australia is set to debut Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald in the first Ashes Test against England, starting Friday in Perth. Stand-in captain Steve Smith confirmed the selection at a press conference held at Perth Stadium.

Key Player Debuts: Doggett and Weatherald

Brendan Doggett, 31, has shown impressive form while playing for South Australia. He will strengthen the fast-bowling lineup, which is currently missing regular captain Pat Cummins due to a back injury, along with Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, both sidelined with hamstring injuries.

Weatherald, a talented opener from Tasmania, has caught Smith’s attention during recent training sessions. Smith praised Weatherald’s courage and skill in the nets, noting, “He’s got a lot of courage… I’m really excited for him. He’s worked hard for a long period of time.”

Smith’s Captains Role

This Test marks Smith’s first Ashes captaincy since the second match of the 2021-22 series. Australia won that match, handing them a 4-0 series victory. Smith stated that he feels more relaxed in his role compared to previous years.

However, he did express his thoughts about former England spinner Monty Panesar’s recent comments urging England’s players to remind Smith of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Smith dismissed these remarks, stating they do not bother him. “I’ve learned a lot over my journey,” he said, emphasizing his relaxed demeanor as captain.

Australia’s Lineup

Marnus Labuschagne will bat at No. 3, with Cameron Green shifting to No. 6. Smith commented, “When he’s batting at his best at No 3, it makes us a very, very good cricket side.” Labuschagne’s performance in recent Sheffield Shield games has been noteworthy.

England’s Situation

England recently announced a 12-man squad for the match and will finalize their playing XI shortly. The team is weighing options between an all seam-bowling attack or adding spin from Shoaib Bashir. In contrast, Australia has already decided to include Nathan Lyon as their spinner, anticipating favorable conditions.