Feel-good stories run through any game’s poetic heart. They humanise a discipline where numbers decide fate and statistics add sheen to eulogies. Australia ‘A’ pacer Brendan Doggett’s is one such tale in a sport full of them and yet qualitatively, it's so much more than that.
Only three seasons ago, Doggett was plying his trade in the second XI of Premier Cricket club, Western Suburbs, while working as an apprentice carpenter on the side.
Now, he is with the Australia ‘A’ team, spearheading the pace attack against an India ‘A’ line-up coached by one of world cricket's most notable no. 3 batsmen, Rahul Dravid. An international call-up, too, beckons with the two-Test series against Pakistan looming large.
“It’s hard to describe (the feeling) to be honest, it has all happened so quickly for me. I just feel very lucky to be able to travel the world and play cricket. I am just taking them one game at a time trying to learn as much as I can and soak in the surroundings,” Doggett tells Sportstar .
The 24-year-old had moved to Queensland to play with his brother Sam — a fast bowler – who plays for Randwick in the Sydney cricket competition.
But after one full season with the Western Suburbs club in Brisbane's Premier Cricket competition, the right-armer was given a rookie contract with Queensland Bulls, making him only the second indigenous player to earn a Bulls contract.
He made his Sheffield Shield debut last season, snapping up 28 wickets including a five-for in the final in March as helping the Bulls to their first title in six years.
Doggett believes the life skills he has gained before his professional career started are ‘invaluable’.
“Yes, I would not have it any other way," he says before adding, “I believe it gives me a great balance and allows me to put things into perspective.”
At Queensland, Doggett has had the chance to work closely with former Australian seamer Andy Bichel, who he says, has been "a great friend."
“Bic’s (Bichel) ability to find tweaks in my action to enable me to get the most out of the ball is great. We work closely together on tactics during an over and also ways we can manipulate a batsman. I've been able to talk closely with past players who have spent a lot of time in India.
“Andy Bichel and I have also had many chats about what to expect and how to make the most of the conditions. So far, those conversations, I've had have been very beneficial to me and I am enjoying my experience so far," he says.
Doggett didn't have any fast-bowling idols growing up but his brother looked up to Brett Lee. "Sam tried to mimic everything he (Lee) did. So, I just did everything my brother did," he says.
Now, as he enters the international spotlight, Doggett would be hoping to blaze a trail with the ball and make the most of what could be a very fruitful career.
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