Sydney: Brendan Doggett has been ruled out of Australia’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies due to a minor hip injury.
The fast bowler, a travelling reserve during the World Test Championship final, was expected to join the squad in the Caribbean but will now return home for recovery. Doggett recently impressed with match figures of 11 for 140 in the Sheffield Shield final for South Australia, raising hopes of a potential Test debut.
In his absence, fellow uncapped pacer Sean Abbott has been called up. Abbott has previously toured with the Test squad in Sri Lanka and India but is still awaiting his debut.
Australia is set to depart for Barbados next week before the first Test on June 25. It will be followed by matches in Grenada and a day-night Test in Jamaica.
The team may adjust its bowling combination depending on pitch conditions. Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann is a potential partner for veteran Nathan Lyon. All-rounder Beau Webster could offer additional seam support.
Meanwhile, concerns remain over Steven Smith’s availability. Smith suffered a compound finger dislocation during the Lord’s Test and is currently in a splint. Although he avoided a fracture and possible surgery, his fitness for the opening Test is uncertain.
“It just split the skin and dislocated it… I may be able to play with it in a couple of weeks,” Smith told the ICC. Head coach Andrew McDonald emphasised the squad’s depth and flexibility: "We haven’t been there since 2016, so there’s a bit of the unknown. But we’ve got a squad that can cover all bases.”
