Former Australian hitter Mark Waugh has called on Hobart Hurricanes spinner Patrick Dooley to score a test call ahead of next month’s tour of India.
The 25-year-old, without a state contract, became a cult hero after defeating the Perth Scorchers 4-16 at Launceston. His action, his unique bowling, and his big bash proved popular with fans of his league.
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Dooley has yet to make his first-class debut last month, but Waugh is confident left-hander Dooley has shown enough promise to win a ticket to India.
“We’re going to throw in some real Smokey here,” Waugh told Fox Cricket when asked about the Australian test team for the Border Gavascar Trophy.
“He’s playing for the Hurricanes right now. Helicopter on left arm, arms and legs all over. Patty Dooley.
“At the moment, I think he’s about 80-1, but I think he’ll do well. I think there’s a bit of a mystery about him. He has some tricks that he needs against Indian hitters. I think he throws the ball very accurately, he bowls at the stumps and does well either way.
“I know it’s really a left-wing choice, but that’s something selectors often think about.”
Former Australian spinner Kelly O’Keeffe continued:
Dooley have taken 10 wickets at 15.90 since making their T20 debut earlier this year, conceding just 6.36 runs per over.
Australia chose two spinners for the New Year’s test against South Africa at the SCG, with Ashton Ager making his first appearance on the buggy green since 2017.
Agar and Nathan Lyon are the frontrunners for the first test at Nagpur, but it’s a mystery as to which spinner will be selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Mitchell Swepson, Todd Murphy, Adam Zampa and Matthew Kuehnemann are among the contenders.
O’Keeffe argued that Murphy, who took 14 wickets at 17.71 in the Sheffield Shield this summer, should join Lyon and Aggar in the subcontinent next month.
“I’d love to take the list, but I don’t think Mitchell Swepson is coming,” O’Keeffe said.
Swepsons played five Australian tests in Asia last year, taking 10 wickets at 45.80.