Australia under pressure to follow Mike Hussey’s advice and play Alex Carey as one-day keeper.

Justin Langer’s Australia is under pressure to heed Mike Hussey’s advice and back World Cup keeper-in-waiting Alex Carey on Sunday in Manchester.

FACING an historic series whitewash against England, Australia is under pressure to heed Mike Hussey’s advice and back World Cup keeper-in-waiting Alex Carey on Sunday in Manchester.

Respected Tim Paine deserves to be Test skipper but a 4-0 scoreline and record four consecutive bilateral series defeats demands Australia picks exciting stroke-player Carey as keeper at Old Trafford.

Australia must match England’s tactical and firepower superiority with Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow showing the value of explosive keeper-batsmen.

Paine, a fine leader, was appointed temporary one-day skipper with Justin Langer and selectors wanting to ensure there was consistent messaging early in the new coach’s tenure.

Picking Carey as keeper is logical in this final, dead rubber given he will return to the Old Dart as first choice custodian in No.6 ranked Australia’s World Cup defence.

“I’m not sure in 12 months’ time Tim Paine will be there because if you think Alex Carey is a better one-day option, you’re better off getting him in there sooner rather than later, if the selectors think he’s a better one-day option,” notes Hussey as England close on an inaugural one-day sweep of Australia.

“We need to be looking at who is in our best team and the best players to play in that team.”

Paine has, uncharacteristically, dropped catches while making 35 runs at 8 this series in contrast to Buttler’s 165 runs at 82 and 135 strike rate. Test keeper Bairstow has 288 runs at 72 and blistering strike rate of 140.

Australia has traditionally picked is best XI then captain and should call time on its Paine-game in the 50-overs format after a six-wicket loss in Durham.

Australia - could still pick Paine as specialist batter in Manchester with D’Arcy short struggling and Glenn Maxwell (shoulder) in doubt. However, Aaron Finch is Australia’s first selected batsman after suspended Steve Smith and David Warner in one-day games and could lead the tourists.

“I don’t think we should be picking players just because they’re a good leader,” Hussey told cricket.com.au.

Carey (6) came in with five overs remaining as a specialist batsmen in Durham but is capable of much more. Athletic Carey averaged 50 in Adelaide Strikers 2017-18 BBL title win at a strike rate of 141 and possesses the clean hitting missing from Australia’s limited overs set-up.

England has four batsman averaging 70 or more this series - Buttler, Jason Roy, Bairstow and Hales, with strike rates between 120 and 140. Skipper Eoin Morgan is averaging 50 with a strike rate of 171.

Shaun Marsh (101, 92 balls) and Finch (100, 106) struck tons and Travis Head his second consecutive half century in Australia’s 8/310 at Durham. However Australia paid for stroke-play that was conservative compared to England, failing to accelerate from 1-225 in the 39th over. Joe Root’s part time off-spin conceded just 44 from 10 overs.

Roy (101, 83), Bairstow (79, 66), unbeaten Buttler (54, 29) and undefeated Hales (34) - after a reprieve from Paine - ensured England won with 32 balls to spare.

Australia’s is lacking a wicket-taking wrist-spinner like England’s Adil Rashid but it’s attack will be transformed by the availability of injured quartet Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Marsh. Installing Carey at Manchester would be a tough but courageous call by Langer.