The Ashes: Mitchell Starc says teammate Brendan Doggett is ready for Test debut in blockbuster series

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc has described likely new teammate Brendan Doggett’s rise as a “hot streak” and declared him good to go for his looming debut.

Starc also said it made him feel “old” to be the last man standing among Australia’s ‘big three’ fast bowlers, but emphatically backed the team’s depth to perform in first Ashes Test from Friday.

In a slick training session at Optus Stadium on Wednesday, Starc was in full flight and Doggett — the favoured option to replace the injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood — bowled a lethal spell.

Without Hazlewood and Cummins, Doggett is in pole position to play, with Queenslander Michael Neser only called into the squad after Hazlewood was ruled out.

“It’s good to see the depth in the squad. We know what Scotty Boland can do, Doggy is coming in off a hot streak and (Michael) Neser has been around for a while,” Starc said.

Doggett, who would become the third Aboriginal player to represent Australia in Test cricket, was first in a national team squad during a tour of the UAE to play Pakistan in 2018.

But his rise from domestic quick to likely Ashes debutant had a rocket put under it when he steered South Australia to a Sheffield Shield title last summer.

The 31-year-old moved to Adelaide from Queensland, having emerged as a domestic player out of Premier Cricket, without featuring in talent pathways as a youngster.

He has begun this season with a six-wicket haul and a five-for in his first two red-ball matches.

Doggett also looms as an option to share the new ball with Starc, who revealed he was unsure who his opening partner would be.

Doggett worked over fellow potential debutant Jake Weatherald and WA all-rounder Cam Green during the session two days out from the match.

“I remember that tour back in the UAE. It was myself, Ness, Doggett and (Peter) Siddle for that Pakistan series,” Starc said.

“Obviously, Brendan was a lot younger and rawer then but we knew what he was about.

“Since then he’s made the change to South Australia, he’s come in red-hot. He’s had a good couple of weeks, we all know what he’s capable of and the skills that he presents and being a little bit older than back in 2018, he’s probably a little bit more comfortable. He’s been around the group, so really excited if he gets his opportunity this week to see what he can do in the Test arena.”

Australia’s session on Wednesday was delayed by lightning in bizarre scenes adding to the drama of the blockbuster series.

In the early part of the session, all-rounders Green and Beau Webster both took catches as part of a slips cordon during fielding training on the outfield.

Marnus Labuschagne also spent time at third slip as Australia weigh up picking both Green and Webster or specialist opener Jake Weatherald. The man tasked with that call — selection chair George Bailey — threw balls for the cordon.