Alex Carey on being named vice-captain of Australia’s Twenty20 team
THE rapid ascension of former footballer Alex Carey through Australian cricket ranks has continued after he was named vice-captain of an Australian Twenty20 side to play Zimbabwe and Pakistan in July.
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THE rapid ascension of former footballer Alex Carey through Australian cricket ranks has continued after he was named vice-captain of an Australian Twenty20 side to play Zimbabwe and Pakistan in July.
Leadership is not new to Carey, having captained Greater Western Sydney’s inaugural Under-18 side in 2010 before he gave up on footy and turned to cricket.
But his nod as a deputy for skipper Aaron Finch surprised the 26-year-old, given his South Australian captain, Travis Head, is also in the squad and Carey has only played six international games.
“I wasn’t really expecting it to be honest,” Carey said of the leadership nod.
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“Playing for your country is one thing, then having the honour to be listed as vice-captain is even bigger.
“To now work with Aaron Finch and be part of the squad that was so successful in the last series, it’s going to be a really enjoyable tour.”
Carey, who was given a Cricket Australia contract in April, will keep wicket for a team which went on a five-game winning rampage against England and New Zealand in February and is now second on the ICC rankings.
With a home World Cup in 2020 on the near horizon the bulk of that winning combination has been retained for the tri-series in Zimbabwe, with only banned batsman David Warner, who was captain, a significant omission.
Big Bash star Chirs Lynn, who has slugged 277 runs in 10 matches for Kolkata in the Indian Premier League, was overlooked, but more because of the immediate condition of his shoulder.
He has played every game of the IPL, fulfilling his $1.8 million deal, but it still significantly limited in the field, can’t dive around, and selectors deemed him not ready for international duties.
The surprise selection was dumped NSW batsman Nic Maddinson who made the 14-man squad despite losing his state contract.
Maddinson, who has signed a three-year deal with the Melbourne Starspiled, piled on 291 runs in the BBL last summer for the Sydney Sixers which was good enough for national T20 selector Mark Waugh.
“Nic has been selected off the back of a very good Big Bash season,” Waugh said.
“He is a very talented player and with his batting skills has the ability to be very dangerous in this format.”
All-rounder Jack Wildermuth also earned a national call-up as selectors look to bed down a successful combination ahead of the next T20 World Cup, in Australia in 2020.
Originally published as Alex Carey on being named vice-captain of Australia’s Twenty20 team