Alex Carey and Josh Inglis make second Sheffield Shield tons

Australia’s best wicketkeepers are in imperious form, but the pressure continues to rise on a Test stalwart.

Alex Carey crashed his way to a second century of the summer as rival keeper Josh Inglis continued his own rich vein of form to pose an intriguing question to Test selectors.

The two glovemen moved to the top of the Sheffield Shield runs tally with crucial performances for their sides as pressure continued to mount on Test incumbents including Steve Smith.

Smith, who has already confirmed plans to drop back down the order to No. 4, was out to Scott Boland for a duck after he shouldered arms and was hit on the pads at the MCG on Tuesday.

It meant that the champion batter’s last six first-class innings had yielded only 54 runs, as South Australia and Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney continued to build his own case with an important 72 to support Carey against Queensland.

The Redbacks duo came together at 4-133, and Carey carried on to reach another ton as he smashed Mark Steketee for four, six and four to move from 86 to 100 in three balls.

South Australian keeper Alex Carey blasted two fours through the covers as part of a three-ball assault to reach his second first-class ton of the summer. Picture: Albert Perez / Getty Images

With a half-hour remaining in the third day, SA were 7-326 with a 332-run lead over Queensland at Allan Border Field.

Bulls debutant Tom Whitney had 3-52 to go with his first innings five-wicket haul, but captain Marnus Labuschagne bowled himself for three more overs than the young quick as he had Jake Lehmann out caught for 35.

With Carey in rare form, Inglis’ chance of a Test debut this summer looks far-fetched, but the WA keeper’s own second century in two games could spark talk of his selection as a specialist batter.

The right-hander made 101 from 141 balls as he combined with Cooper Connolly (55) to give the home side a 45-run first innings lead over Tasmania at the WACA.

Hilton Cartwright (65) also returned to the crease on Tuesday after he retired on 52 on the second day to be at the birth of his second child, who he said had arrived safely despite complications.

Josh Inglis has also made a red-hot start to the summer as he prepares to rejoin Australia’s white-ball squads next month. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

WA spinner Corey Rocchiccioli joked that he wanted Inglis to be confined to the WA set-up for as long as possible this summer.

“He’s incredible, isn’t he? He’s not only batting well, but his keeping is amazing. I selfishly want him to stay around as much as possible,” Rocchiccioli said after day two.

“He’s been swinging the game back into our favour a lot over the last couple of days, and the game just gone (against Queensland).”

Tasmania was reduced to 3-37 in reply as Cameron Gannon (2-5) and Victorian recruit Brody Couch (1-24) combined to claim the wickets of Caleb Jewell, Jake Weatherald and Jordan Silk.

Mitchell Starc (6-81) and Scott Boland (2-41) were the dominant forces again at the MCG as wickets continued to tumble, but NSW keeper Josh Philippe was superb with an unbeaten 70 to take the Blues to 6-185 at stumps in pursuit of 383.

Teenage opener Sam Konstas appeared to learn from his first-innings tussle with Boland as he forged 43 from 97 balls, but fell as he danced down the wicket to Todd Murphy and sliced a ball to point.

Boland removed Nic Maddinson and Smith within five deliveries in his second outstanding new-ball spell for the match.

He had Maddinson caught in the slips only to have overstepped the line, but struck again three balls later in similar fashion.