Mid-way through day three of NSW and Victoria's Sheffield Shield affair at the SCG on Wednesday, the prospect of two First Nations seamers in Australia's XI for the first Ashes Test in Perth looked a strong possibility.
With Scott Boland all but certain to be named in injured skipper Pat Cummins' absence, Worimi man Brendan Doggett appeared poised for a baggy green when incumbent quick Josh Hazlewood and Test squad member Sean Abbott both left the field during Victoria's second innings.
The Blues teammates were both sent for scans, presenting a circumstance where Australia could play the third-ever Indigenous cricketer for the opening Ashes Test in Doggett.
After again being selected in the travelling Test squad, Doggett took five wickets in an innings for the second time in as many Shield appearances earlier this week - following first innings figures of 6-48 in Western Australian conditions late last month.
Hazlewood visibly limped onto the SCG to shake hands at the match's conclusion on Wednesday, while Abbott's fitness was more difficult to draw opinion on after neither seamers chose to bat in the final session of day three in Sydney.
The Vics claimed a 300-run win over the Blues following the loss of their eighth wicket.
Later on Wednesday, Hazlewood was cleared of a serious injury.
"Hazlewood left the field late in Victoria's innings at the SCG today reporting tightness in his right hamstring. He underwent precautionary scans which have cleared him of muscle strain," a Cricket Australia statement said, per reports.
"He will train as planned in the lead up to the first Test in Perth."
Doggett continues his fine form with the ball 🔥
The quick ripped through Tassie and finished with figures of 5-66. pic.twitter.com/wB5OSL4nHT
- South Australia Cricket Teams (@SACricketTeams) November 10, 2025
Abbott, however, has been ruled out with a moderate hamstring injury.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Australian captain had watered down fears around Hazlewood's condition, with Cummins saying he was "pretty chipper" post scans.
Steve Smith, who'll lead the side in place of Cummins for the first Test, had similarly spoken about Hazlewood's departure from NSW's side out of caution.
In addition, Cummins did have plaudits for Doggett.
"He's been bowling really well the last couple of games, from what I've seen," Cummins said on Wednesday.
"He missed the first game or two, but he's come back really strongly. He's really well placed to be vying for a spot in that first Test. It's always nice having a squad full of people in form, and he certainly is one of those guys."
Cummins added he's personally "90 per cent" fit as he recovers from a back injury while eying off the second Test.
Having toured with the squad last summer and to the UK for the World Test Championship final earlier this year, Doggett ended last season on a high with an 11-wicket, player of the match performance to help South Australia break a 29-year Sheffield Shield drought in March's final.
He's taken 13 wickets at 14.69 across two matches to start the first-class summer.
"The big thing with someone like Doggett and Scotty being in the Australian team is the visibility for other Indigenous kids," Cricket Australia chief of cricket James Allsop told AAP earlier this week.
Boland, late 90s early-2000s quick Jason Gillespie, mid 20th century trailblazer Faith Thomas and current women's team star Ash Gardner are the only First Nations cricketers to play Test cricket for Australia, with a handful of others featuring in international white-ball formats.
"If I pick up a bat and ball there's a pathway for me, and I can see someone who is from the same cultural background as me playing at the highest level," Allsop added.
In the Vic's massive win against a Test team-stacked NSW side, Boland ended with 2-27 and 1-24 with back-to-back 50s from Steve Smith the home side's only resistance.
