Australia did something very special on Friday, November 21, as they made their way out to the middle at Perth's Optus Stadium for the first Test of the 2025-26 summer against England. The contest, captained by stand-in skipper Steve Smith, was always going to be one of great interest as Australia seek to defend the Ashes once more. But this became one incredibly significant Test thanks to a significant cultural marker that touches on the long history of the nation. Australia played this Test without regular captain Pat Cummins and star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. Both missed the game due to injury and workload reasons. This opened the door for Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett to enter the playing XI together. Boland has been in and out of the team despite his strong record, while Doggett made his debut in this game after a good run in domestic cricket. Also Read | Mitchell Starc Destroys England Top Order in Perth, Hits 100-Wicket Mark in Ashes Tests Historic Day for Indigenous Representation The combination of Boland and Doggett made this Test truly historic. This was the first time in Australia's cricket history that two Indigenous players featured together in a men's Test match. This had never happened before, even though Australia played their first international match way back in 1877. Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett became just the second and third Indigenous male Test cricketers in Australian cricket after Jason Gillespie. Gillespie, who played from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, remains one of Australia's most respected fast bowlers. Now, Boland and Doggett have added a new and meaningful chapter to that story. Also Read | Ashes 2025-26: Why Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood Miss the First Test Long Journey for Indigenous Australians The indigenous Australians are known as the original people of the land and are considered one of the oldest cultures in the world. After colonization, they had to struggle a lot to regain the lost ground, their rights, and to keep their identity intact. Their progress within the national sports, especially cricket, has always been slow. Besides these three male representatives, Australia has had two Indigenous women represent the country in Test cricket: Faith Thomas and Ash Gardner. Their presence helped open doors in cricket for further inclusiveness.