Abbott Replaces Injured Doggett in Australia’s Test Squad

Australia has adjusted its Test squad ahead of the upcoming three-match series in the West Indies. Sean Abbott, a seasoned pace bowler, will step in for Brendan Doggett, who has sustained a minor hip injury.

Doggett, who served as the travelling reserve for the recent World Test Championship (WTC) final, has returned to his home following the injury.

The 31-year-old, yet to debut at Test level, was initially included in the squad after a remarkable domestic season. He achieved the best match statistics in a Sheffield Shield final—11 wickets for 140 runs—leading South Australia to a long-awaited title.

Doggett was also part of the squad for the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test last summer, marking his return to national consideration since 2018.

Abbott, 33, is rejoining the squad, having last participated in Australia’s Test matches during the tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year. The right-arm fast bowler concluded the domestic season strongly, securing 6 wickets for 99 runs in his final first-class match for New South Wales in March. He ended the Shield campaign with 19 wickets at an average of 21.94 across three matches. His sole appearance since was in the Pakistan Super League, playing for Quetta Gladiators.

Additionally, Australia is monitoring the fitness of Steve Smith, who dislocated his right little finger during the WTC final against South Africa, which could lead to further squad adjustments.

The injury, sustained while fielding, will require Smith to wear a splint for up to eight weeks, but surgery is not needed. The wound is anticipated to recover in two weeks, raising hopes for his participation in the tour.

“Fortunately, there’s no break there, it just split the skin, which dislocated it,” Smith commented after the WTC final. “But in a splint for eight weeks now, and I may be able to play with it in a couple of weeks. It’ll depend on my functionality.”

Head coach Andrew McDonald stated that the team will evaluate Smith’s ability to bat with the splint before making further squad decisions.

“If Steve wasn’t available for the first Test match, that would allow for extra batting coverage,” he said. “Because if we lost another player, then we’d be short in terms of what we had available.”

Sam Konstas, a young opener, and Josh Inglis, a wicketkeeper-batter who scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka, are the reserve batters in the squad who were not part of the WTC final.

The first Test against the West Indies is scheduled to begin on June 25 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

Australia’s Test Tour of West Indies Schedule: