Adelaide Striker Alex Carey backs teammate Travis Head to remain in the Aussie team for Boxing Day Test
Alex Carey will captain the Adelaide Strikers while Travis Head is unavailable on national duty. And he’s backed the Test vice-captain to retain his spot in the Aussie XI for the Boxing Day clash with New Zealand.
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Peter Siddle is joining Travis Head on Test duty and Alex Carey doesn’t expect the Adelaide Strikers’ skipper back anytime soon.
Keeper-batsman Carey will steer Adelaide in Saturday’s season opener against Sydney Thunder in Canberra with Head retained in a 13-man Australian squad for the second Test against New Zealand.
Former Australian selector Mark Waugh has criticised Head’s conversion rate of one ton from eight half centuries and shot selection, saying: “When you are causing your own downfall that’s the worst thing”.
Carey says Head’s first innings half-century on a challenging Perth strip should be praised, rather than a focus on his dismissal driving through cover at Kiwi swing bowler Tim Southee.
“Trav is going fine, he has only had two hits this year and made a 50 on a tough wicket,” said Carey of Head, who averages 40 over 15 Tests.
“Hopefully we don’t see him back until after New Years.
“They are winning and he is vice captain of that group.”
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Seamer Siddle will join the Australian Test camp in Melbourne on Sunday with Strikers teammates Michael Neser and Head.
The trio will miss Adelaide’s first home clash of the season against Perth Scorchers on Monday.
“That is what we want, people playing for Australia and encourage that, so it would be great if we did see Peter in the green and gold,” said Carey of Siddle, who has been called up to replace injured seamer Josh Hazlewood.
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Carey says tearaway Billy Stanlake and gun Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan will lead a Strikers attack that will see Wes Agar, Harry Conway and Cam Valente gain greater exposure.
“Billy Stanlake has played a fair bit of international cricket now, he will look to lead that attack with Rashid Khan,” he said.
“We have some really good young quicks and spinners coming through.”
Carey is Australian limited overs deputy to Aaron Finch, but will draw on Cameron White’s extraordinary leadership experience while captaining in Head’s absence.
“His tactical side is unbelievable and calm, switched on and makes my job easier,” said Carey of White, Sheffield Shield’s youngest captain at 20 when appointed by Victoria 16 years ago.
“I am looking forward to picking the brains of Cameron White, learning a lot from him.”
Carey will travel to India with a 14-man Australian squad for the three match one-day series starting January 14 in Mumbai, but is biding his time for a Test debut behind captain and keeper Tim Paine.
“I am loving playing cricket at all formats, but the ultimate dream is to play Test cricket and I will keep working hard to one day do that,” said 2019 World Cup star Carey.
“Off the back of a World Cup we want to go away and beat India in India.
“It is always tough conditions.
“We did that last time, so it would be good to do it again.”