Former Australian batter Mark Waugh has called for Hobart Hurricanes spinner Patrick Dooley to earn a Test call-up ahead of next month’s tour of India.
The 25-year-old, who is without a state contract, became a cult hero after taking 4-16 against the Perth Scorchers in Launceston, with his unique bowling action proving popular with Big Bash League fans.
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Dooley is yet to make his first-class debut last month, but Waugh is convinced the left-armer has shown enough promise to earn a plane ticket to India.
“I’m gonna throw in a real smokey here,” Waugh told Fox Cricket when asked about the Australian Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“He’s playing for the Hurricanes at the moment. Left-arm helicopter, arms and legs everywhere. Patty Dooley.
“At the moment I reckon he’s about 80-1, but I think he could firm. I think there’s a bit of mystery about him. He’s got some tricks, which I think you’re gonna need against the Indian batsmen, and he bowls quite accurate. He bowls at the stumps, and he just does enough either way.
“I know it’s a really left-field selection, but it’s something the selectors may well think about.”
Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe continued: “His angular release is the best angular release for a wrist spinner in Australia.”
Dooley has taken 10 wickets at 15.90 since making his T20 debut earlier this year, conceding just 6.36 runs per over.
Australia picked two spinners for the New Year’s Test against South Africa at the SCG, with Ashton Agar making his first appearance in the baggy green since 2017.
Agar and Nathan Lyon are the leading candidates to play the first Test in Nagpur, but mystery surrounds which others spinners will be selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Mitchell Swepson, Todd Murphy, Adam Zampa and Matthew Kuhnemann are among the other contenders.
O’Keefe argued that Murphy, who has taken 14 wickets at 17.71 in the Sheffield Shield this summer, should join Lyon and Agar in the subcontinent next month.
“I’d like to take a wristy, but I don’t think Mitchell Swepson’s come up,” O’Keeffe said.
Swepson played five Tests for Australia in Asia last year, taking 10 wickets at 45.80.