The two nations finalised their preparations in humid conditions on Thursday after stand-in skipper Steve Smith confirmed Australia would field two debutants<\/a> in a Test for the first time since January, 2019.<\/p>\n Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald add an element of mystery to a series that shapes as the final home Ashes for several Australian champions, while judgement day has arrived for Bazball as England seek to reclaim the Urn.<\/p>\n Fox Cricket canvasses the big talking points leading into the first Test at Perth Stadium.<\/p>\n WHO WILL TAKE THE NEW BALL ALONGSIDE STARC?<\/p>\n With Australia missing champion bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Smith has some thinking to do when it comes to deciding who will take the new ball alongside Mitch Starc. <\/p>\n Does he opt for the newcomer Doggett or the experienced hand in Scott Boland? While the Aussie skipper did not divulge the answer on Thursday, former speedster Brett Lee believes it could help settle any nerves Doggett might feel.<\/p>\n \u201cWould I give him the brand new ball? Maybe that\u2019s the best thing for his nerves,\u201d Lee said at the launch of the Kayo Sports Beach outside Perth Stadium on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it might be best if they lose the toss and they go to bowl first, that Steve Smith might go, \u2018Alright mate, it\u2019s time to get the nerves away. Take the brand new ball and shape a few away.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not like he\u2019s just been picked out of the blue. He\u2019s been around the squad now for a long, long time, so he\u2019s trained with the guys and he knows the guys very well personally. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had a couple of really good Sheffield Shield series back to back, so he\u2019s done the work. He\u2019s (earned the) opportunity. But when you walk out there tomorrow at 10 o\u2019clock, whenever they start, then all that hard work has now got to be transformed. (He has to) take that nervous energy, take that pressure, take that opportunity and hopefully he gets a bag of wickets.\u201d<\/p>\n Doggett, who will become the third cricketer of Indigenous heritage to wear the Baggy Green after Boland and Jason Gillespie, has appeared at ease in the nets over the past few days at Perth Stadium.<\/p>\n The former Toowoomba chippy combined with veterans Starc and Nathan Lyon in a spirited net session on Wednesday in which they put his fellow debutant Weatherald, the veteran Khawaja and all-rounder Cameron Green to the test.<\/p>\n Doggett first toured with Australia back in 2018 and Starc, who was alongside him at the time, said the South Australian domestic representative has matured a lot since then in both his bowling and also his personality. <\/p>\n MORE ASHES NEWS<\/p>\n \ufeffPompous claims that \u2018dont stack up\u2019… and a \u2018laughable\u2019 reality: Why Bazball irks Aussies so much<\/a><\/p>\n Legend who didn\u2019t even \u2018stand out\u2019; \u2018genuinely scary\u2019 sledge reply – Poms in Aussie grade cricket<\/a><\/p>\n \ufeff\u2018It was hardcore\u2019: Inside Aussies\u2019 fiery Ashes net \u2014 and what we learned from final session<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Rather play in Brisbane’ – Starc fires | 01:50<\/p>\n \u201cI remember that tour back in the UAE. I think it was myself, Ness (Michael Neser), Doggett and (Peter) Siddle were on that Pakistan series in the UAE,\u201d Starc said. <\/p>\n \u201cObviously Brendan was a lot younger and rawer then, but we knew what he was about. And since then he\u2019s made the change to South Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s come in red hot. He\u2019s had a good couple of weeks and we, as a group, know what he\u2019s capable of and the skills that he presents.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd being a little bit older than back in 2018, he\u2019s probably a little bit more comfortable in his own skin and around the group. So I\u2019m really excited … to see what he can do in the Test arena. And having had him around the group for a while over the years, I think he\u2019s certainly in a great headspace.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Carey has played alongside Doggett for South Australia and said his domestic form has been remarkable.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a fantastic teammate, really experienced and bowling as well as he ever has,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cI think we look at his last five first class games, he\u2019s taken four five fors. So he comes into this squad with great form. He should have great confidence. <\/p>\n \u201cHe won us the Sheffield shield final last year and again started this season really well. He\u2019s got his body to a level to back up and continue to play lots of cricket. And if he does get his chance, I think this wicket will suit him so. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s not new to the squad either. He was around the World Test Championship. He\u2019s been in a number of squads and I think that\u2019s the exciting part for players coming in. There\u2019s lots of exposure before they play international cricket. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd even with Jake Weatherald in the squad, lots of guys know him and have played a lot against him, so it feels like they\u2019ve all slotted in really well. And whichever 11 it is, it\u2019s a team that\u2019s in form and, I feel like, ready to play some good cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith, who was uncertain whether or not he had played against Doggett when he was representing Queensland as a youngster, has noted he is now a more refined bowler than when he first toured with Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is very skilful. I think he\u2019s improved a hell of a lot the last few years, and I\u2019m excited to see him go about his business,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201cI have faced him in the nets here and he gets the ball down at nice pace and stands the seam up. His lengths are really good. <\/p>\n (He has) everything you need for a surface like that out there. <\/p>\n \u201cHopefully tomorrow (Friday) or the day after, whenever we bowl, he can get the ball in the areas we know that he can and if he does that, I\u2019m sure he\u2019s going to create plenty of chances.\u201d<\/p>\n GREAT ASHES MOMENTS<\/p>\n #2: Aussie blunder Stokes couldn\u2019t believe as Headingley stunner capped by icon\u2019s brutal text<\/a><\/p>\n #3: One man walked out on Steve Waugh\u2019s masterpiece ton… and England great\u2019s response was iconic<\/a><\/p>\n #4: Inside Ashes\u2019 biggest outrage… and how it sits with Aussies now<\/a><\/p>\n #5: Inside MCG miracle no one saw coming… and humble act that said it all<\/a><\/p>\n 15-6: Ironic twist over THAT farce; shocker star will never live down<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763321169_134_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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