Overview
- Cricket Australia confirmed Brendan Doggett will debut in Perth, forming a pace trio with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
- Jake Weatherald also earns a first cap alongside Usman Khawaja, with Marnus Labuschagne at No. 3 and stand-in captain Steve Smith at No. 4.
- Cameron Green is preferred to Beau Webster at No. 6 as Alex Carey keeps wicket and Nathan Lyon takes the spin role.
- The XI will feature two Indigenous players in a men’s Test for the first time, with Doggett set to become Australia’s third Indigenous Test cricketer on official records.
- Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are ruled out through injury and are targeting returns for the Brisbane Test on December 4, while Doggett’s call-up follows 33 Sheffield Shield wickets last summer and an 11-wicket match haul, alongside ongoing debate that 1868 Aboriginal tour games do not carry Test status.