Mark ‘Choco’ Williams behind Alex Carey’s successful pitch for the Australian vice-captaincy
Port Adelaide’s 2004 premiership coach Mark Williams has been instrumental in steering South Australia’s young cricketer Alex Carey towards to the Australian vice-captaincy.
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ALEX Carey has revealed how Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams shaped his successful pitch for the Australian vice-captaincy before becoming a central confidant in GWS star Dylan Shiel’s potential $8million dollar contract decision.
Williams’ daughter Georgie is the partner of Shiel, who he mentored along with best mate Carey while at the Giants.
Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh, Aaron Finch, Carey and Travis Head were voted by peers as having the best leadership credentials, Test skipper Tim Paine excepted.
The five leadership candidates presented to a Cricket Australia panel including selectors Trevor Hohns, Greg Chappell, board member Mark Taylor and coach Justin Langer.
“It was the most important preparation I have done in my life,” said Carey, named co-vice captain with allrounder Mitch Marsh to support Aaron Finch in the three-match, T20 series starting October 24 in the Middle East.
“Lots of preparation went into that and I got some mentoring leading into it from Mark Williams who I worked with in my football days.
“I guess that settled me. I was quite nervous, it was a really good experience.
“We had to look at our vision, values and where I saw Cricket Australia moving forward. To be given the opportunity is great, working with Finchy and Mitch Marsh. I feel like I am learning every game I play at international level.”
Carey doesn’t know if Shiel will ignore a life changing, lucrative overture from St Kilda but following his heart back to cricket is paying off for the keeper-batsman.
Cut by inaugural Giants mentor Kevin Sheedy in 2012, Carey returned to cricket but didn’t cement a spot with South Australia until 2015.
“Three years ago I was working my way back into South Australia’s set up and a couple of weeks ago to be presenting why I should be a leader of Australian cricket was a proud moment,” said Carey, a poster boy for the post-Steve Smith/David Warner era.
“ I want to keep putting pressure on Tim Paine, want to play cricket for Australia in all formats.”
Australia will be bolstered against No.1 ranked Pakistan by the bowling fire-power of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Starc, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and Chris Lynn’s power-hitting.
“There will be some fireworks up front that’s for sure,” said Carey, who made his one-day debut against England in Brisbane last January.
“There are some unbelievable players in this next series.
“There are some experienced faces back, Coulter-Nile is a great short format player, Mitchell Starc is playing, Billy Stanlake.”
Zampa made an impeccable case for a recall with 12 wickets at 25 in the JLT Cup.
“He is bowling really, gone away and done the right things to get back into the Australian set-up,” said Carey of Zampa.
“It is the best I have seen him bowl. He has a lot more energy through the crease, a little bit quicker through the air like Rashid Khan which I think is a good thing in white ball cricket.”