Doolan to take flight for Magpies

Having narrowly missed a berth in the Test team to play Sri Lanka, Doolan, who has been in sparkling form this summer including an unbeaten 161 for Australia A against South Africa, will join Melbourne Renegades teammate Brendan Drew in the Magpies line-up ahead of his impending KFC T20 Big Bash League debut.

With the Renegades cruising to an eight-wicket victory during their season opener against the Melbourne Stars at Etihad Stadium on Friday night without Doolan, who was absent on national duties in the Chairman’s XI in Canberra, the 27-year-old will be hoping to push his claims in Victorian Premier Cricket.

Doolan is one of six Renegades who are expected to participate tonight, with Drew also poised to play for the Magpies, while leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed will turn out for Melbourne Uni.

Michael Hill and Meyrick Buchanan are also expected to lock horns when Melbourne travels to Geelong, with Stars all-rounder Alex Keath also named to take the field for the Dees, while James Muirhead has been given the green light to play for St Kilda.

“Alex is a massive addition to our side,” Camberwell Magpies coach Shannon Young said.

“Then there’s Drewy, he definitely had a bounce in his step on Saturday. The city was really buzzing, I think Melbourne likes an underdog so people were happy when the Renegades won.

“It’s a good test for the boys tonight to come up against Fawad, he’s a world class leg spinner. Looking at all the build up games he looked like the front line spinner for the Renegades and that’s a side with Murali playing in it.”

With a number of clubs vying to contest Sunday’s Twenty20 final, the heat will be on for all players to perform.

For more information on Victorian Premier Cricket, click here.