Doggett Ruled Out for Season as Rain Denies NSW Victory Push at SCG
Brendan Doggett has been ruled out for the remainder of the domestic season after suffering a significant hamstring injury, while rain and over-rate regulations left New South Wales frustrated during a drawn Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.
Doggett, who made his Test debut earlier this summer during the Ashes in Perth and also featured in Brisbane, sustained the injury late on day three. He left the ground on crutches that evening, with scans later confirming a grade two hamstring tear involving tendon damage.
South Australia coach Ryan Harris described the blow as a major setback.
“It’s a pretty bad one involving a bit of tendon,” Harris said. “So he’ll miss the rest of the season. The focus now will be on getting himself right for the Test matches against Bangladesh in August.
“It’s really disappointing. He’s had a really good summer with his Test debut and felt like he was finally in a good place physically. It was just an innocuous chase for the ball. We tried to manage him, but he chased it — which we tell him not to — and unfortunately that’s happened. It’s a big loss for us.”
New South Wales’ hopes of forcing a win on the final day were effectively ended by rain, which delayed the start of play until 3.30pm. With limited time available, NSW turned to spin from Joel Davies and Tanveer Sangha in an effort to improve their over-rate.
Axed NSW coach Greg Shipperd, however, was critical of Cricket Australia’s over-rate penalty protocols, arguing they unfairly penalise teams affected by weather.
“It’s another one of Cricket Australia’s really mystical decisions,” Shipperd said. “It’s all fair if the game is concluded by day three, but in circumstances like this, with wickets encouraging fast bowling, both sides are naturally going to fall behind.
“South Australia were six overs behind but got all of day three to play themselves back into the game. If today had been completely washed out, we would have been docked four points without having any opportunity to fix the situation. That doesn’t make sense.”
Shipperd said he raised the issue during the match and was told NSW should have accounted for the weather forecast earlier.
“That obviously means McSweeney didn’t manage his innings as well in the first innings,” he said. “Whether it’s BBL or Sheffield Shield cricket, they never cease to confuse us.”
Reflecting on a difficult week that saw him removed from both his NSW and Sydney Sixers roles, Shipperd admitted the decision still stung.
“Nothing’s changed, I’m still disappointed with the call,” he said. “But the team played really well this game. If there’s such a thing as a moral victory, the rain got in the way of what could have been a win or a fantastic contest that went right down to the wire.”
Asked about his future in coaching, Shipperd said he would reassess after the season. “I’ll have to dust myself off and reflect on that once the season finishes,” he said.
When play eventually resumed, Davies claimed his maiden first-class wicket as a delivery straightened to dismiss Nathan McSweeney. However, a patient half-century from MacKenzie Harvey and 97 balls of resistance from Jason Sangha ensured South Australia held on for the draw.
NSW captain Jack Edwards and quick Liam Hatcher did not bowl on the final day, with an eye on Tuesday’s crucial One-Day Cup fixture that will shape qualification for the final.
The match ended with a lighter moment, as Kurtis Patterson — who had earlier scored a career-best 173 not out in his 100th Shield appearance — bowled the first over of his professional career.