The Ashes 2021/22: Alex Carey sings praises of Travis Head ahead of home-town Test in Adelaide

Alex Carey has seen the evolution of Travis Head’s batting first hand and when he says the middle order dasher is primed to become a major force, it certainly comes from a reputable source.

As he prepares for an emotional reunion with his ill father, Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey turned the spotlight on a team-mate he feels will take the cricket world by storm.

Carey’s father, coach and mentor Gordon is suffering from leukaemia and could not make it to Brisbane to see his son’s Test debut due to ongoing chemotherapy sessions in Adelaide.

But the Carey family will get the chance to see Alex play live in Adelaide pink ball Test in Adelaide from Thursday.

Catch every moment of The Ashes live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. Join now for just $5 for 2-months Kayo Basic. New customers only, ends 13th Dec.

Travis Head was at his brutal best at the Gabba.

“Dad’s been not only a mate but a coach of mine growing up, a mentor,” Carey told 7NEWS.

Carey took a world record eight catches on debut at the Gabba and luxuriated in the success of his South Australian team-mate and close friend Travis Head who broke the game open with a century in a session.

Carey said the innings showed a glimpse of the potential he believes can make Head a major force on the world stage.

“There is a little bit of chatter about the way Travis plays, but when he gets away he is unstoppable,’’ Carey said.

“So you ride the waves. You ride the lows. I have seen that in Shield cricket for a number of years. He might make an amazing 30. He might make 150. He is a match-winner.

“If we see innings like that over the next 12 to 18 months, he is going to be one of the best players in the world. He is really confident.

“I think with Trav it is not worrying about the external noise. He will continue to play the way he plays best. Really positive. If there is a ball to hit, he hits it. He scores really quickly. He parks the scoreboard. He does not worry about that too much.

Travis Head left the English pacemen frustrated with his glorious knock.

“He’s got some skill. We will move to Adelaide and he is really excited to get home and put on a good performance in front of his home crowds.’’

Carey said playing white ball cricket for Australia has slightly eased the tension of his Test debut and, despite two batting failures in the match, he looked comfortable and polished behind the stumps.

“I am really excited to be heading to Adelaide. We all know what a pink ball Test means. It is a really good atmosphere. Growing up I watched games there and to have family and friends there will be very exciting.’’

‘Without flaws’: Carey earns ultimate praise on debut

- Emma Greenwood

They say luck is when 10,000 hours of preparation meets one moment of opportunity.

Alex Carey’s Test moment was years in the making.

But anyone who thought the South Australian wicketkeeper’s record-breaking debut was “lucky” - having beaten out rising star Josh Inglis for the position suddenly made vacant by Tim Paine’s Test withdrawal - must’ve missed the years of dedication to his craft that had Carey’s teammates gushing about his performance at the Gabba.

His eight catches set a record for a player on debut - although South African Quinton de Kock had nine dismissals, including eight catches, in his second Test but first behind the stumps against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2014.

Perhaps cruelly, a wicketkeeper doing a good job goes largely unnoticed.

It’s his job to take the nicks behind the stumps, stop the rogue wide balls and stand up to the slower men.

Alex Carey took a world record eight catches behind the stumps on his Test debut.

So when captain Pat Cummins said Carey was “without flaws”, it was a compliment of the highest order.

“I thought he was tremendous, really clean against Lyono (Nathan Lyon) as well,” Cummins said.

“I’m not surprised, he’s played a lot of international cricket and we knew he’d slot straight in and be high quality.

“I’m really happy for him, really impressed with his debut, not surprised.

“Eight catches is a great start for him.”

Adam Gilchrist, who made an emotional speech when presenting Carey with his baggy green on the opening day, has been effusive in his praise in commentary, praising Carey’s glovework.

And Nathan Lyon, who picked up his 400th Test wicket on Saturday, was also impressed with his teammate’s work behind the stumps.

“I think for Alex, it’s been an absolutely incredible debut,” Lyon said.

“I’m not surprised by it.

“I’ve watched him train in the lead-up and his preparation has been world class.

“He’s obviously played a lot of white-ball cricket for Australia and our relationship is only going to get bigger and better and stronger.”

The pair had been putting in long hours together ahead of the Gabba Test to fast-track a combination that could be key to an Ashes series win.

Carey heads back to his home ground for his second Test.

“He’s (been) coming down on the early bus with me to catch in the nets and our relationship is heading in the right direction,” Lyon said.

“To debut at the Gabba in an Ashes series and take eight catches, a record, I’m pretty proud of him to be honest.”

Carey has been picked as a wicketkeeper batsman and while his scores of 12 and 9 were nothing to write home about, they were important runs in the scheme of the match.

His first-innings partnership of 41 with Travis Head steadied the ship for Australia as England threatened to push back into the match and he opened on Saturday when the Aussies decided not to risk David Warner’s bruised ribs.

He was dismissed four runs short of victory but having the gumption to step forward impressed his captain.

“Putting his hand up when Davey (Warner) wasn’t going to open and saying: ‘I’ll open’, shows a lot of confidence and he’ll do whatever he can for the team,” Cummins said.