Gloves are off as new dad Alex Carey keeps faith ahead of Adelaide Oval ODI against South Africa
AS Australian vice-captain Alex Carey cradles newborn son Louis, there is no reprieve from his responsibilities as he enters a crunch, hometown clash against South Africa at Adelaide Oval today.
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AS Australian vice-captain Alex Carey cradles newborn son Louis, there is no reprieve from his responsibilities as he enters a crunch, hometown clash against South Africa.
The Loxton-born kid, who originally targeted AFL stardom on Adelaide Oval, is now charged with leading Australia out of a seven-match losing streak. In the wake of the sandpapergate scandal and a series of high profile Cricket Australia exits, the fightback starts on Friday.
“I want to play cricket for my country and to do that in my home state puts a big smile on my face for sure,” Carey told The Advertiser. “For us, it is a big game to stay in a best of three series. Obviously 1-0 down, we have to win to square it, we have to improve on last Sunday’s loss in Perth.”
Two-month-old Louis, Carey’s first son with wife Eloise, will watch Dad play for the first time, backed by a family entourage. Dad Gordon, mum Andrea, brother Adam and sister Ashleigh will watch Alex walk out for the first time as deputy to skipper Aaron Finch, adding further incentive to impress.
“I am really excited to get out on Adelaide Oval and have Mum and Dad, wife Eloise, the in-laws, watching,” said Carey, anointed as Australia’s 2019 World Cup keeper following Tim Paine’s demotion.
“It is more special to put on the green and gold in front of family and friends. I remember being an on-ground flag bearer at a New Zealand game here a few years ago, so to play for Australia on Adelaide Oval is a dream come true.”
Carey will go into battle with batsman Travis Head and possibly leg-spinner Adam Zampa in what would be a rare Croweater ODI triumvirate.
“They are close mates,” said Carey, the only recognised Australian batsman to pass 30 in a 152 total against South Africa last Sunday. “It is really exciting. Zamps has an impressive record at one-day level and Travis loves playing at Adelaide Oval, has scored BBL and one-day tons here. I know the boys are pumped to get out and play.”
Carey is uniquely equipped to deal with expectation and adversity, having been cut by AFL side GWS in 2012 under Kevin Sheedy. Life on the sporting scrapheap loomed large when dropped by SA in 2013 following a return to cricket. “He has an ability to hold his nerve, (he) was 14 on A-grade cricket debut,” said Gordon, a respected SACA and SANFL junior coach.
“I am very proud of the way he came through.” Carey was recalled by SA as keeper-batsman in February 2016 and hasn’t looked back, breaking the record for most dismissals (59) in the 2016-17 Sheffield Shield season.
“You can’t get dirty on the system,” Gordon said.
“You are only beaten when you quit and we have adopted that attitude.”
Carey had played in just three one-day games before appointed vice-captain last month. The qualities national selectors and peers saw to “honour” Alex with the vice-captaincy are magnified by fatherhood, his father says.
“We were very chuffed for him,” Gordon said.
“People have seen something in him. I know that pressure won’t get him. He was brought up to be accountable.
“There is that awareness of caring for somebody else and not just worrying about yourself. You see that in leaders like Adam Gilchrist.”
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While Alex is cool as a cucumber, Gordon and Andrea are “hopeless” when its comes to watching him in action.
“He was playing for the state under-15s in Perth one game and got off to a good start,” Gordon said. “So we didn’t move from our spot and Alex was 96 not out at the end of the day. We were pretty sunburnt! We will love it on Friday and just hope he has a good day. We are proud of him.
“I will text before play saying best wishes but not good luck; you make your own.”