Alex Carey wants to emulate Tim Paine’s T20 path to Australian selection this summer
Alex Carey on why BBL form is now important for higher honours after Tim Paine’s surprise baggy green recall.
SA Cricket
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AUSTRALIA’S next keeper Alex Carey says BBL form has attained heavyweight currency after Tim Paine’s stunning baggy green resurrection.
Carey, 26, leads a queue including Peter Nevill and Matt Wade to replace Paine if the Test gloveman is injured this Ashes series or rested during the packed limited overs schedule that follows.
Paine’s dual half-centuries, 66 against Sydney Sixers then 91 hosting Melbourne Stars for Hobart Hurricanes, last season paved Australian T20 then Test recalls.
“You saw last year Tim Paine had a really good Big Bash and was the Australian T20 keeper,’’ said Carey.
“They obviously look at results from these games, there’s some one-dayers and T20 cricket coming up.
“All the guys want to do well and I am no different. Hopefully I perform and keep pushing my name out there.”
National selectors signalled Twenty20 performances could supersede the significance of first-class results by selecting Paine to replace Tasmanian squad mate Matt Wade in Steve Smith’s Test unit.
Paine wasn’t keeping for Tasmania’s Shield side when selected for the Brisbane Ashes opener against England.
Instead, Paine assumed the gloves on the back of five T20 starts for Australia between February and September.
“If I perform well and other guys I am sure a name will be out there for some higher honours. There are T20 fixtures against New Zealand and England coming up at the back end of this Ashes series so I am sure performances will be recognised,” Carey said.
Paine impressed with a half century (57) against England in Adelaide’s pink-ball Test but Carey is logical heir to the 32-year-old incumbent.
Impeccable glovework reaped Carey a Sheffield Shield record 59 dismissals in 2016-17.
A breakthrough maiden first-class (139) ton national coach Darren Lehmann demanded came against Queensland in Cairns last week.
“It was the monkey off the back. After 20 games I thought I was batting well just didn’t have the hundred,” said former GWS on-baller Carey.
“The selectors wanted a wicket-keeper to make big runs and it was a nice feeling to get that hundred.
Going into the back end of the year I want to make more hundreds and win games for South Australia.”
Carey has scarce T20 experience but fills the shoes of keeper-batsman Ben Dunk who cracked a tournament- high 364 runs last summer for Adelaide before poached by Melbourne Stars.
Half-centuries in a boom 2017-18 JLT one-day series opening partnership with Jake Weatherald is set to continue in the December 22 BBL opener against Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval.
“Weathers is hitting the ball really well,” said Carey who made his T20 debut for the Strikers against Sydney Thunder last January .
“I am really looking forward to having the gloves this year and playing some good cricket with these guys.”
Originally published as Alex Carey wants to emulate Tim Paine’s T20 path to Australian selection this summer
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