Alex Carey replaces Tim Paine as limited overs ‘keeper and vice captain to Aaron Finch
SOUTH Australia’s Alex Carey has capped a stunning rise from AFL discard to Australian vice-captain and World Cup wicketkeeper with Tim Paine confined to Test cricket.
- Lehmann jumps into Test frame
- Warner sledged by Phillip Hughes’ brother
- Finch named one-day captain, S. Marsh survives as Paine dropped
ALEX Carey has capped a stunning rise from AFL discard to Australian vice-captain and World Cup keeper with Tim Paine confined to Test cricket.
Test skipper and keeper Paine averaged 7.2 as a stop gap presence in Australia’s 5-0 series loss to England in June for coach Justin Langer’s first tour in charge. Selectors have declared their future limited overs course.
Appointed deputy to limited overs skipper Aaron Finch three seasons after his first class comeback and eight years after being cut by Kevin Sheedy at Greater Western Sydney underpins the esteem Carey enjoys from peers and Australia’s hierarchy.
“Alex Carey will pull on the gloves full-time to allow Tim Paine to focus purely on captaining the Test team, which includes preparing for next year’s Ashes,” said national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, signalling the end of Paine’s 35-game ODI journey.
“Alex provides us with another strong batting option, as he displayed in last year’s Big Bash, and he’s a wonderful young leader to have around the group and out in the field.”
Carey is co-vice captain with Josh Hazlewood in a 14-man squad to face South Africa in Perth starting next Sunday, Adelaide on November 9 then November 11 in Hobart.
“We expect Aaron, Josh and Alex to lead the side through a big Australian summer, where we’ll meet South Africa and India, they’ll also be driving our standards and values as we prepare our defence of the World Cup, which is only seven months away,” said Hohns.
Carey has just three one-day internationals and 28 List A games under his belt entering a symbolic, post Sandpaper-gate series against South Africa. Sixth ranked Australia has lost 16 of 18 ODI games and won’t be reinforced by David Warner and Steve Smith before the World Cup.
Test trio Travis Head, Finch and Shaun Marsh were Australia’s leading scorers against England but Chris Lynn will add standout hitting prowess.
Finch will call on the first choice trio Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins and Hazlewood while express Nathan Coulter-Nile provides additional firepower against the Proteas.
Selectors acknowledged the value of a wicket-taking leg-spinner, recalling a vastly improved Adam Zampa at the expense of off-spinner Nathan Lyon. “We believe the squad we have selected will give us a great opportunity to not only be competitive at home this summer, but it also allows us to start to build continuity leading into next year’s tournament,” said Hohns
Cummins will make a comeback from the back injury that has sidelined him since the fourth
Test against South Africa in Johannesburg last March.
Success against Faf du Plessis’ unit is imperative to build bridges with fans, gain traction entering the Border-Gavaskar Test showdown against India and fine tune for next year’s World Cup in England.
“Hugely important. It is a great lead in to the Test series, a high intensity, quality series,” said Cummins.
“I think a lot of the public takes more notice of what happens in Australia. We have to start off well and get a lot of support around us, get players in form. It is a really important series, JL’s first home series as well.”
Cummins said Australia would play hard but fair against the Proteas in the wake of the ball tampering scandal.
“We will still have our aggression but not as in your face,” he said.
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