Away from the spotlight, the Australia wicketkeeper has had a superb World Cup, showing his adaptability with the bat
Andrew McGlashan04-Jul-2019Reams have been written about David Warner and Steven Smith at this World Cup. Mitchell Starc’s yorkers have sent social media (and Ben Stokes’ stumps) into meltdown. Jason Behrendorff enjoyed the week of his life at Lord’s. People always talk about Glenn Maxwell, whatever he’s doing on the field. Usman Khawaja’s role has filled the airwaves and prompted much debate. Heck, even when Nathan Lyon wasn’t playing he was often spoken about.It feels like almost every other player in the Australia squad has had their moment in the spotlight more than one who deserves it the most. Under the radar, Alex Carey is having a superb World Cup, particularly with the bat where he has adapted to various situations he has found himself in at No. 7. Heading into the final group match against South Africa, he has 244 runs at 61 with a strike-rate of 110.40 – the second best strike rate among the side’s established batsmen, behind Maxwell – having come into the World Cup with a strike-rate of 83.46.He has had to confront a full range of challenges at the crease. Against West Indies the score was 79 for 5; by the time he fell for a sprightly 45, Australia had a foothold in the match which Starc then transformed. Against India he was faced with the almost impossible task of scoring 11 an over off Jasprit Bumrah and co, and finished with 55 off 35 balls. Against England his unbeaten 38 meant an innings which had lost its way a little was given a late kick. A few days later, facing New Zealand his career-best 71 came at nearly a run-a-ball when Australia, albeit secure in the semi-finals so under less pressure, had been 92 for 5.”It’s just his calmness,” fellow wicketkeeper and now assistant coach Brad Haddin said. “The way he came in to bat the other day at Lord’s, we were under a lot of pressure, but he seemed in control straightaway.”The wicket looked difficult at times to score but the way Alex composed himself and played calm through the innings. That just comes from playing more cricket. The one thing we know with Alex is he’s started behind from a cricket point but from a professional sports point of view, he’s been around it his whole life.”
Carey plays with the perfect mixture of calmness and intent, assessing the situation and pouncing on any opportunities that present themselves in the frenetic pressure of the final oversSteve Waugh in an ICC column
That innings against New Zealand was his third ODI fifty, all of them coming in his last 10 matches, as he benefited from one of the many last-minute decisions made within the Australia set-up in the lead-up to the World Cup, when he went to the No. 7 spot for the away series in India. It was only last November that Carey was inked in as the ODI wicketkeeper, following Tim Paine’s brief sticking-plaster role in the fallout to the ball-tampering scandal, and Carey’s early matches brought with them shuffling around the order.Carey started the Australian season at No. 5 and then No.6 against South Africa. He was sent in to open against India – a role where he had initially made his name in the Big Bash League – before Khawaja’s successful promotion and then Warner’s even more successful return. He rarely failed to make a start (only six times in 24 innings has he been dismissed for less than 20) but there were a few questions about whether he could find the tempo for a finishing role.A few months later, the numbers he has produced in England promoted a notable comparison from Steve Waugh,even before the innings against New Zealand. “Another to impress has been Alex Carey who is a hybrid of Michael Hussey and Michael Bevan,” Waugh wrote in his ICC column. “Carey plays with the perfect mixture of calmness and intent, assessing the situation and pouncing on any opportunities that present themselves in the frenetic pressure of the final overs. He shapes as a potential match-winner for Australia in the back end of the competition.”Carey’s form, along with the struggles for Marcus Stoinis, who is averaging 16.25 with a strike-rate of 84.41, has created a debate about whether he should be pushed up at least one spot. He is making a compelling case, but the flip side is moving a player from a position they are enjoying success from.”It’s something I would look at,” Haddin said. “I think you’ve got to with the way he plays and the calmness he has got at the moment, he can move up and down the order and with his opening. But from a keeper’s point of view No.7 can also be a specialist spot. You get to bat in a few different situations like at Lord’s under pressure or you’ve got to accelerate at the start of your innings and that’s a skill as well.”Whatever position he bats, Australia know they have a player who can deal with pressure situations. As the World Cup reaches the knockouts that can be a priceless commodity.
