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Brendan Doggett has stated he's at peace with whatever fate befalls him for the second Ashes Test, with Pat Cummins' likely return probably set to see him axed. Doggett took five wickets on Test debut in the first Ashes clash in Perth, and performed brilliantly alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
Cummins will reportedly be included in Australia's squad for the second Test at the Gabba, after missing the Perth match due to a back issue. If Cummins proves his fitness for the day-night Test next Thursday, the man who will most likely make way is Doggett.
The Aussies have the option of leaving Nathan Lyon out and playing an all-out pace attack. But that appears increasingly unlikely, with coach Andrew McDonald tipping the spinner to come into play when the pink ball softens a bit quicker than the red counterpart.
"Pat is looking pretty good in the nets now, so we will see where that lands," Doggett said on Thursday. "I am going to control what I can control, keep ticking the legs over and keep bowling and trying to improve in every session and game. If I get called on in that second Test I feel like I am ready to go again."
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When asked directly whether he'd had any word from selectors about whether he would make way for Cummins, he responded: "There have been no conversations whatsoever. We are soaking in the win and letting everyone get back to their families. We arrive in Brisbane on Sunday, so I assume conversations will start there about what the line-up looks like for the second Test."
Doggett doesn't have a lot of pink-ball experience, but said he'd be be ready to adapt to the conditions at the Gabba. The 31-year-old took 5-78 in Perth, and showed he belongs at Test level.
"It was a pretty hectic week on and off the field for me. Obviously it was nice to get the win and watch Travis Head go to town in that fourth innings," he said. "I didn't imagine it being a two-day Test and Trav (Head) scoring a 69-ball hundred, but the crowd and atmosphere were amazing and all my friends and family were there to support me. It is what I dreamt of so glad to get that one off my chest."
Cummins bowled in the nets in Perth last week, and then had another session on Tuesday at Cricket NSW headquarters. Tellingly, he was spotted bowling with the pink ball in Sydney in a huge indication he's a good chance to play in Brisbane.
McDonald said this week that Cummins is a genuine chance for Brisbane. "There's a lot of positives there, but now it's just really building that resilience there, and making sure that we're not putting him in harm's way in terms of accelerating it too much," the coach said. "But it will be a genuine discussion leading into this Test match, and that may be one that eventuates late for us."
with AAP
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