Brett Lee Backs Brendan Doggett to Take the New Ball Before Scott Boland

In the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Australia have no option but to include Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett in the pace bowling lineup. This is a tricky situation because only one of them will pair up with Mitchell Starc in the opening spell.

Scott Boland is an exceptional bowler, but he lacks the pace needed for the fast Perth pitch. Brendan Doggett could be the other option, but as it would be his first international match, taking the new ball could put him under some pressure.

The legendary bowler of Australia, Brett Lee, thinks that the debutant should be given a chance ahead of Scott Boland. He wants Doggett to express his skills at full pace, as this could give England some early shocks in the batting. He wants Steve Smith to trust the debutant, who is entering this series on the back of a strong Sheffield Shield performance.

"Maybe that's the best thing for his nerves. If they lose the toss tomorrow and they've got to bowl first, then Steve Smith might go, 'Alright mate, you haven't got time to get the nerves. Take the brand new ball and shape a few away.” said Brett Lee while talking to the media.

"It's not like he's just been picked out of the blue. He's been around the squad now for a long, long time. He's trained with the guys, he knows the guys very well personally. He's had a couple of really good Sheffield Shield seasons back-to-back, so he's done the work and he's earned that opportunity.” added Australian pace legend, Brett Lee.

He also offered some words of caution to the debutant, saying that he needs to prove all his hard work and preparation at the big stage tomorrow. It can certainly become a nervous moment for him, but he needs to absorb the pressure and bowl with full intensity to get early wickets.

"But when you walk out there tomorrow at 10.20am, it doesn't matter. All that hard work is now going to be transformed. Take that nervous energy, take that pressure, take that opportunity, and hopefully he gets a bag of wickets.” said Brett Lee.

Speaking about Scott Boland, Brett Lee said that he is an experienced bowler who can perform at any stage of the game. Keeping that in view, it won’t be difficult for him to come into the attack later, as he has the skills to manage the old ball as well.

"The thing with Scott Boland is that he can bowl anywhere: I reckon he'd get the ball to seam off ice, he's so good." said Brett Lee.

Smith Expresses Confidence in Brendan Doggett

The stand-in captain of Australia, Steve Smith, is also confident that Brendan Doggett will bowl with full pace in the first test. He said Doggett impressed everyone during the net sessions, so the team is confident that he will perform well in the match.

“He gets the ball down at nice pace, stands the seam up. Hopefully, whenever we bowl, he can get the ball in the areas we know that he can. If he does that, I'm sure he's going to create plenty of chances." said Steve Smith.

The curator of the pitch at Perth, Isaac McDonald, has also promised a surface full of pace and bounce. He said pace bowlers will create plenty of chances here if they bowl at the right lengths.

"You've got to bowl a lot fuller, that five-metre length, over here in Perth. The teams that get excited when the ball flies through [to the keeper] generally get punished, because nothing goes on to hit the stumps. [Aim for the] top of off, and that means a fraction fuller if it's a wicket that's quite bouncy.” said Isaac McDonald.

Considering the nature of the surface, he is confident that the slip fielders will get plenty of chances. This means tall bowlers like Starc and Doggett can trouble England early in the innings, provided they bowl at the right lengths.