The Ashes 2021/22: Alex Carey named to replace Tim Paine for Gabba Test

The greatest player to ever wear the gloves for Australia swears by a long white ball apprenticeship and is confident Alex Carey will hit the ground running in his first Test next week.

CRICKET – 09/11/18 – ODI – Australia v South Africa at The Adelaide Oval. Alex Carey takes the bails off to run out Aiden Markram for 19 runs. Marcus Stoinis threw the ball Picture SARAH REED

The anointment of Alex Carey as a Test wicketkeeper has taken Adam Gilchrist back in time to his own journey to the top of the tree.

Gilchrist also made his Test debut at the Gabba after a long apprenticeship as the white ball gloveman and was only a couple of years younger than Carey is now.

Although Gilchrist is also a fan of up and coming keeper Josh Inglis who nearly pipped the South Australian at the post, the greatest player to ever wear the gloves for Australia has declared Carey deserves his opportunity and admits it has brought back memories of his debut back in 1999.

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Just like Gilly, Carey has served a long white ball apprenticeship.

“I don’t think they would lose out by having either one of those two step out there … but I do think Alex deserves it,” Fox Cricket expert Gilchrist told News Corp at the network’s bumper Ashes launch at Bondi Beach on Thursday.

“I just see some of the similarities through the journey that I went on and undertook. Getting yourself into the frame in white ball cricket and then trying to be in that position that you’re the man they go to when an opportunity comes up.

“It’s a different landscape now and a lot more chopping and changing with another format of the game we play, but as a general statement I think this is why you invest in players, this is why you get them in the system and spend time and resources developing them.

“The time is right for him and it’s a great opportunity for Kez to fulfil that dream. I think he’ll do a terrific job.”

Carey has played 45 one-day internationals for Australia and has served as captain of his country on multiple occasions.

Although his batting form has been patchy in first-class cricket this summer, he has an excellent overall record over the past three seasons for South Australia and has the potential to change the momentum of the game batting at No.7.

Adam Gilchrist had an exceptional Test batting record.

And his keeping was pretty good as well.

Gilchrist said Carey should take confidence from what he has already proven at limited overs international level, and believes Test cricket will suit him even better.

“The foundation for me to walk out to Test cricket was my years in one-day cricket, to the point where when I walked out to bat, Junior (Mark Waugh) was at the non-striker’s end – a bloke I’d opened the batting with 70 times in one-day cricket,” said Gilchrist, who will fly to Brisbane to call the first Test for Fox.

“That gave me a sense of calmness and familiarity and I think that’s what Kez will find. He certainly won’t be overawed by the situation.

“He’ll really enjoy the opportunity just to get in there and bat. He looks like a classy operator who will know how to occupy the crease and get himself in and then be able to go through the gears at the right times.

“I think he’ll really enjoy the time of Test cricket.”

The reality for Carey is that although his experience has seen him beat Inglis to the punch this time, the West Australian, as the younger man at 26, is likely to be stalking him in his shadow over the years to come.

Carey will have to be wary of Josh Inglis breathing down his neck.

Inglis is regarded by a lot of good judges as the better skilled gloveman, and with sub-continental tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the horizon next year, Carey will need to show his skills standing up to Nathan Lyon.

Gilchrist said he can’t be thinking about Inglis’ footsteps.

“He’s just got to play what’s in front of him. That’s absolutely all you can do,” said Gilchrist.

“He’s an extremely hard worker so he’ll be well prepared and well planned. He’s an intelligent, smart kid and that comes through in his cricket.

“Don’t be worrying about what Josh or anyone else is doing in domestic or Big Bash cricket.”

HE’S A KEEPER: CAREY GETS NOD TO REPLACE PAINE

- Todd Balym

Alex Carey will become Australia’s newest Test debutant with the wicketkeeper added to the 15-man Ashes squad to face England on Wednesday.

Carey won the battle with Josh Inglis for the role vacated by former Test captain Tim Paine, who resigned from his position in the wake of a sexting scandal then withdrew from the first Test squad to focus on his family and mental health.

Carey, 30, will become Australia’s first wicketkeeping debutant on home soil since Adam Gilchrist in 1999.

“I am incredibly humbled by this opportunity. It’s an exciting build-up for what is a huge Series ahead. My focus is on preparing and playing my part in helping Australia secure the Ashes,” Carey said.

Alex Carey has won the race to be named wicketkeeper for Australia for the first Ashes Test. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“This is also for my dad who has been my coach, mentor and mate, my mum, my wife Eloise, kids Louis and Clementine, my brother and sister and all of those who have supported me. I will be doing my absolute best to make them and our country proud.”

Chairman of selectors George Bailey said Carey’s elevation to the Test team is just reward for how he has progressed through the ranks in Australia and via the one-day national side where has also stood in as captain.

“Alex has been a regular member of the national side in white ball cricket, particularly in the one-day game,” Bailey said.

“He is an excellent cricketer and a fine individual who will bring many great strengths into the team. He will be a very deserved holder of baggy green cap number 461.”

THE AUSSIE TEST BATTLE THAT WILL RAGE FOR YEARS

By Robert Craddock

Alex Carey has won his first battle with Josh Inglis, and deservedly so. But stay tuned. This one could run for years.

If the two were boxers you could say Carey has clinched the first bout – on points. There was no knock down.

Carey will make his Test debut against England at the Gabba next week in the most agonising keeping decision since Matthew Wade was recalled to replace Peter Nevill after Australia were pulverised by South Africa in Hobart five years ago.

Alex Carey’s work behind the stumps will be watched closely at the Gabba.

Carey brings class and calmness in equal measure and Australia can do with both in a highly pressurised series.

Carey deserved his chance after a very Adam Gilchrist-type rise in which he has spent several years playing white-ball cricket for Australia and will make his debut – as Gilchrist did – at the Gabba at age 30.

The selectors have always had a suspicion the higher Carey played the more his temperament would shine through. Just the sight of him coolly striding to the wicket at No 7 with that Jacques Kallis-style grace will be comforting a for team with a few wobbly parts.

But, it must be said, while very fond of Carey, the selectors have never totally fallen in love with his potential in the same way they have with, say, Cameron Green.

It was never as if they only had eyes for him.

Carey will bring a calming presence to the Aussie middle order.

The rapidly emerging Inglis was chosen beside Carey in the Australia A side to play in Brisbane next week and beat Carey in to the World T20 squad.

The selectors are also known to have been impressed by Queensland’s Jimmy Peirson.

Carey will need to have a strong Ashes series to keep Inglis at bay for the Test tour of Pakistan in February-March.

Australia is also scheduled to tour Sri Lanka and India over the next two years, heavy duty tours which require keeping excellence over the stumps.

Inglis has been widely praised for his work over the sticks and this is an area where Carey must match him.

Josh Inglis comes with a big reputation.

If he does he may hold the post for the next five years. If not, he will soon feel pressure for Inglis and Pearson.

Had Australia’s selectors considered Carey’s elevation a formality after Tim Paine’s surprise exit last Friday, they could have announced it almost immediately. Yet they are still yet to confirm it.

With big names such as Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne supporting Inglis, the selectors gave his case the deepest of consideration.

Spinner Nathan Lyon said Tim Paine’s work over the stumps was the best of any gloveman in the world.

The bar is high.

Originally published as The Ashes 2021/22: Alex Carey named to replace Tim Paine for Gabba Test