Brendan Doggett has impressed in one of the few occasions the fast-medium seamer has taken to the national stage, running through the second half of the India A batting card in Mackay on Thursday.
Bowling for the 50th time in first-class red-ball cricket, the 30-year-old claimed career best figures of 6-15 representing Australia A in the four-day fixture.
In the first of the two sanctioned unofficial Tests between contenders for each country's Test teams, the Worimi man's performance overshadowed the anticipated four-way bat-off between the declared candidates for the Australians to partner opener Usman Khawaja ahead of this summer's home series against the world No.1 Indian side.
While the battle of Australia's top four batsmen would take care of themselves later on the opening day, it was Doggett who hurried up that process on a Mackay wicket that offered assistance to the seamers.
After both Indian A openers were exposed early by the movement to reduce the tourists to 2-17, Doggett accelerated the pressure to take five of the next seven wickets, including two of the top three scorers on the day, to have the batting lineup reeling at 9-86 at the end of his spell.
Australia A went to stumps at 4-99 after a shaky start from the top order of potential Test openers, excluding captain and favourite for David Warner's vacated role, Nathan McSweeney, who was forced to bat at No.4 in the order.
But the spotlight first shone on Doggett for most of the first 47 overs of the encounter.
The former Queenslander from nearby Rockhampton, who plies his trade in South Australia nowadays, obliterated his previous best haul of 5-77, back in February 2018 while playing for his home state, all inside 67 balls on Thursday.
He only needs to take two more scalps in the second innings to ensure on improving his best match figures of 7-84.
Doggett only came into the starting XI for the Australians as the second reserve, having been called up to replace the injured Liam Hatcher, who in turn had replaced first-choice bowler Mark Steketee.
The late call-up for Doggett came after getting just 72 hours' notice from the national selectors to fly into Mackay from Adelaide.
Doggett's name remains a fair way down the list of Test paceman, including behind Gulidjan man Scott Boland among Australia's powerful depth in bowling stocks, but Thursday's performance did not do his chances of an Australian call-up any harm.
"It was a bit unexpected," Doggett said after stumps on Cricket Australia's streaming service.
"I got injured in the first round of Shield cricket, so I've only bowled twice up until this game.
"I came in with an attitude of there's nothing to lose.
"I wasn't meant to be here anywhere, there were a few injuries, a few of the players fell down before me.
"So I'm grateful for the opportunity."
Doggett hit the perfect fuller length, troubling most Indian batsman who strode out to the centre.
His first wicket was Sai Sudharsan, who edged Doggett through to gloveman Josh Phillipe to start their morning.
Doggett got to work in a middle session that did not belong to the batters, with India A reaching 4-77 to be all out for a paltry 107.
Ishan Kishan nicked one behind on counterattack and Devdutt Padikkal, who had provided the most resistance on the day as the top scorer with 36, found an edge as well from a gem of a Doggett delivery through to Phillipe to pick up his fifth catch.
Doggett's fifth wicket came after trapping Manav Suthar leg before wicket with a yorker and the sixth arrived after he cleaned bowled Prasidh Krishna.
Brendan Doggett holds up the match ball after walking off the ground with six wickets to his name (Image: Getty Images)
