Former bodyguard stands tall

The Bodyguard: Brett Dorey's decision to give cricket a second chance as paid off with a national call up © Getty Images

It sounds like a movie script; from a bodyguard for a Russian businessman to being on verge of representing your country - Brett Dorey's story is full of intriguing twists and turns. Even in Australia's current stage of rebuilding, his name would not have been on the lips of many for this season. In 2004 he didn't even have a contract with Western Australia but, after impressing during an injury crisis, was brought on board for this season. He has not looked back and the Australian selectors noted his promise, being especially impressed by his ability to extract bounce from a good length using his high action. Dorey is a capable batsman and is so focussed on improving that he employs a personal coach, which has already paid dividends with a match-winning stand for WA against Queensland in the Pura Cup. Now, after just 11 first-class and 10 one-day matches, he is on the verge of representing Australia.

Timeline
1995-1997 - Represents Australia Under-17 and Under-19
February 2004 - Returns to WA set-up in the Cricket Australia Cup
November 2004 - First-class debut for WA against Queensland, takes 1 for 110 as Queensland amass 561
December 2005 - Selected for Prime Minister's XI against West Indies and the Chairman's XI against South Africa
December 2005 - Takes a career-best 7 for 86 against Queensland at the Gabba and follows that with a match-winning stand of 47 with Shaun Marsh
January 2006 - Named in the Australian VB Series squad to take on South Africa and Sri Lanka

Current form
Is the leading Pura Cup wicket-taker for 2005-06 with 26 scalps at 23 apiece, from five matches, including that career-best haul against Queensland. Has seven wickets at 26 in the ING Cup, plus his economy rate is an impressive 3.91 runs per over.

Vital stat
At 6'7'', he would be the equal-tallest fast bowler to play for Australia, alongside Bruce Reid. He stands half an inch shorter than the former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner.

Some career change
After his first crack at cricket, Dorey gave it up and opted to travel round Europe instead. It was during this trip that he ended up acting as a bodyguard for a wealthy Russian businessman. Michael Clarke probably wishes Dorey had been on the Ashes tour when he had his kit stolen at Leicestershire.

What he says - On being selected by Australia
"I haven't met half of the [team]. I had a bit of a bowl in the nets with them last year, but Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Ricky Ponting, I don't know them at all. I keep thinking about the first team meeting we're going to have and I'll be sitting in there with the best team in the world. I thought if I keep taking wickets I might be a silly chance maybe for South Africa maybe, but it was a shock, total shock, so I'm surprised and happy,"

What they say about him No. 1 - John Buchanan shows his knowledge of Australia's latest speedster
"I'm as much in the dark about him as anyone. I haven't seen him at all apart from one net session. He has a very good reputation and is rated very highly by everyone who has played with and against him."

What they say about him No. 2 - WA team-mate Marcus North compares him to Jo Angel
"He probably swings the ball a little bit more than Jo did. But his control, and the height and bounce he gets, is very much like Jo. He is very awkward to face. Blokes who are that tall don't tend to swing it that much, they are more seamers, so it is quite unique to have a guy that big swinging it both ways and it makes him very awkward. He's not up there with [Brett] Lee for pace, but he bowls a very heavy ball."

What you may not know
His call-up to the Australian squad comes barely three years after he was involved in a severe snow-boarding accident in Austria, which left him unable to run and wondering whether he would ever play cricket again.