Durham have lined up Australia Test squad bowler Brendan Doggett as county cricket prepares for a flood of Ashes hopefuls featuring during the 2025 season.
Doggett, 30, was called up by Australia two months ago when Josh Hazlewood was injured and is in a group of pacemen with ambitions of facing England next winter set for stints in the County Championship.
Yorkshire are in discussions with both Jordan Buckingham, whose four for 41 propelled England Lions to an innings defeat against Australia A in Sydney earlier this month, and Joel Paris, the rangy Western Australia left-armer.
Additionally, as first reported by Mail Sport, Hampshire have agreed to sign New South Wales captain Jack Edwards – a rival to to Cameron Green and Beau Webster for the all-rounder spot in Australia’s Test team courtesy of averages of 38.6 with the bat and 22 with the ball in this winter’s Sheffield Shield.
Doggett did not feature against India in December despite being called up for the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests, but reminded people of his quality this week when he demolished Tasmania’s batting with six for 40 for Shield leaders South Australia.
It is anticipated that he will feature for Durham during the first seven rounds of matches, potentially rotating with the more established Scott Boland, who remains in talks to return to the north-east after injuring himself after just one appearance in 2024.
Brendan Doggett was called up for the series against India but is yet to win an Aussie cap
Scott Boland is in talks to return to Durham after his last county season was ruined by injury
Jordan Buckingham took four for 41 against England Lions in Sydney earlier this month
Buckingham, a state team-mate of Doggett, is a regular with Australia A and keen to show he is a far better bowler than the one who bagged just three wickets in as many appearances for Northamptonshire two years ago.
Yorkshire have turned their attention to the 24-year-old and the twice-capped Paris, 32, whose 194 first-class wickets have come at under 20 runs apiece, after missing out on number one target Matt Henry.
With bowling stocks low at Headingley following the departure of Matthew Fisher to Surrey, it is hoped they will add quality during the first half of the season.
Victoria captain Will Sutherland has already been recruited, primarily with Twenty20 in mind, meaning he will be limited to just a couple of appearances during the club’s return to Division One.
Australia are looking for their next battery of quicks with the likes of Pat Cummins in their 30s
Jack Edwards will push his claim for a Test all-rounder’s spot during his spell with Hampshire
There will also be plenty of Aussie white-ball specialists in the UK this summer including Moises Henriques who is on his way to Nottinghamshire to join their T20 squad
The rush of Australia seamers heading for the UK coincides with Pat Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc missing the Champions Trophy, which from an Australian perspective starts with Saturday’s crunch clash with England here in Lahore.
All now in their 30s, their absence has placed a focus on those who might step up against England should injuries bite during the five-match Test series next winter.
And it will take the number of Aussies in the county game this summer beyond 20: there are already 14 signed up to play in the Championship, six of them seamers, plus five T20 specialists with contracts for 2025, including Moises Henriques, who is on his way to Nottinghamshire.
