By Andrew Wu
The first piece of Australia’s Ashes selection puzzle is in place with Alex Carey poised to make his Test debut in Brisbane after being given the nod ahead of Josh Inglis.
Selectors could have waited until the last minute to make the call, but they have made an early decision that will almost certainly mean the South Australian wicketkeeper becomes the country’s 461st male Test player next week at the Gabba.
Inglis and Western Australia teammates Ashton Agar and Mitchell Marsh have left Queensland after completing quarantine but are expected to return.
Carey has been earmarked for some time as the heir apparent behind the stumps to Tim Paine but a recent run of outs with the bat in the Sheffield Shield left the door ajar for Inglis to snatch a baggy green.
Ideally, selectors would not be blooding a debutant in an Ashes series but in Carey, with nearly four years in the green and gold, they have a man who has proven himself more than capable at the top level, performed strongly in a World Cup, held an official leadership position and is battle-hardened by recent match practice. Inglis is uncapped at international level.
Although he lost his Twenty20 berth to Matthew Wade 12 months ago, Carey, with an average of 36.45, is ensconced in the one-day international team as a batter capable of rebuilding an innings in the middle order or accelerating the run rate.
Alex Carey is set to make his Test debut at the Gabba.Credit: Getty Images
However, Carey failed to slam the door shut on challengers, passing 50 just once in the Shield from eight innings this season for an average of 22. He had also been in the hunt for the Ashes four years ago but a lack of runs allowed Paine to swoop. His ton for the Redbacks on Sunday, albeit in the Marsh Cup, was timely.
Inglis’ quest for a Test debut was hamstrung by his selection in Australia’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign. His only involvement in the tournament was as a drinks waiter. The polished gloveman and enterprising batter’s only game in the past two months was a T20 warm-up in the Middle East.
In another blow, Inglis is likely to be denied valuable time in the middle after Cricket Australia said an intra-squad game in Brisbane was extremely unlikely to proceed and would be replaced by centre wicket and net practice.
Inglis stormed into Test calculations after an impressive Shield campaign last season where he made 585 runs at 73. His stunning form in England’s T20 league and The Hundred put him on selectors’ radar for the white-ball formats.
There are some heavyweight figures in Australian cricket in his corner, including Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne, but selectors are asking him to wait.
At 26, Inglis is young enough to contend again whereas the time is very much now for 30-year-old Carey.
The main selection queries now are the middle-order battle, where Usman Khawaja is the favourite for a spot ahead of Travis Head, and if veteran quick Mitchell Starc will hold off next-generation pace ace Jhye Richardson.
Selection chair George Bailey indicated a fortnight ago his panel was well advanced in its discussions for the No.5 berth, at a time when Khawaja was in red-hot form and Head short of runs.
Head has since made a second-innings ton in a losing side but Paine’s departure could work in Khawaja’s favour if selectors opt for the veteran’s experience to strengthen a five-six-seven combination that would contain four-gamer Cameron Green and debutant Carey.
The selection of the in-form Richardson ahead of Starc would be recognition for the younger man’s extra game time this season, and allow the left-arm quick and pink-ball maestro another week of training before the day-night Test in Adelaide.
Richardson’s express pace and outswing have yielded 23 wickets at 13, in a sign he is back to his best after two years blighted by injury.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.