Dumped World Cup wicketkeeper Alex Carey confident of Test spot

He lost his spot in Australia’s World Cup winning team, but Redbacks star Alex Carey has returned home believing he will retain his Test position.

Alex Carey is confident of retaining his Australia Test wicketkeeping spot and will ramp up his preparations for the home summer by playing in the Redbacks’ Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at Adelaide Oval next week.

Controversially left out of Australia’s World Cup winning side after the first match of the tournament against India, where he made a duck, Carey said: “I don’t feel like one-day and Test cricket probably overlay’’.

“We’ll wait and see when Test selection comes out but I’m looking forward to getting out there on Tuesday and having a hit with the red ball with the Redbacks and then we’ll see what happens,’’ the 32-year-old South Australian said after arriving back in Adelaide on Wednesday following Australia’s historic sixth World Cup triumph.

Carey described being dropped so early in the World Cup and being replaced by West Australian Josh Inglis, who took a World Cup final record five catches against India, as “very tough’’ but vowed to bounce back in the Test arena.

Alex Carey arrives back in Melbourne on his way to Adelaide after being a part of Australia’s World Cup winning squad in India. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“It was very tough because you never want to get dropped in any format and unfortunately after the first game I didn’t get back out there,’’ he said, stressing he was confident of adding to his 25 Test matches when Australia plays Pakistan in Perth from December 14-18 in the first Test of a five-match summer campaign against Pakistan and the West Indies.

“But I tried to be the best 12th man that I could and felt I held myself around the group really well.

“You are still a part of the 15 (player squad) and I experienced winning a World Cup, which is something you dream of, although I would have loved to have been a part of the XI on the night.

“I still found it to be a really enjoyable trip and a really special two months away with the group that has had an amazing year.

Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey has returned home after an unbelievably successful stint for the Australian team. The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/soGrxXcpcM

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) November 22, 2023

The Australia squad celebrates its World Cup final triumph in India. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“As we look back, we’ve won a World Test Championship, retained the Ashes and now won the World Cup, so it’s been pretty special.

“Now I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing in a Sheffield Shield game for South Australia.’’

Carey has been Australia’s Test wicketkeeper since replacing former captain Tim Paine two years ago.

He said while he sat out most of Australia’s World Cup campaign, he felt in good nick with the bat, saying he was “smashing them in the nets’’.

“I think I’ve scored about 500 in the nets, so I’m feeling good,’’ Carey said.

Alex Carey practices his batting during a World Cup training session. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

World Cup final player of the match Travis Head enjoys the spoils of victory. Picture: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Some members of Australia’s World Cup winning team have stayed in India for a T20 series, including Carey’s Redbacks teammate Travis Head, who was player of the match in Australia’s semi-final and final victories.

His glorious, matchwinning 137 in the final has etched his name in history but Carey said he wasn’t surprised by Head’s extraordinary feats.

“It’s not really surprising,’’ Carey said.

“I say it every time he does something good, that it’s not surprising because I think he’s hitting his straps in international cricket now.

“He’s coming up to 30 and he’s flourishing. To see the (broken) hand injury he had and to come back against New Zealand and score a hundred and then turn it on again in the finals was pretty special in some tough conditions.’’