By Andrew Wu
Alex Carey’s diminishing returns has left the door open for Josh Inglis to snatch the wicketkeeper’s job in Pakistan, and highlighted how big a void former captain Tim Paine left behind the stumps.
After an excellent start to his Test career in Brisbane, Carey is learning how tough it is to maintain the high standards with the gloves set by his predecessors.
As Adam Gilchrist knows well, there is a good reason why only six of Australia’s 34 male Test stumpers have had a tenure longer than 50 games.
Alex Carey’s form has dropped off since an excellent Test debut.Credit: Getty
“What you learn very quickly, you’ve got to back it up,” Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket. “Every day, every session, every hour, every minute.”
The mistakes are mounting for Carey, who dropped two simple chances in Sydney after letting two go in Melbourne and Adelaide.
None have been particularly costly, but Australia will have less margin for error on the tour of Pakistan than they have against England.
Paine’s long-term understudy, Carey held off a late push by Inglis for the job in the Ashes but has failed to slam the door shut on his rival. In a low-scoring series, he is yet to make a major impact with the bat, his average of 15 not helped by dismissals in meaningless innings.
Given the George Bailey-led selection panel’s preparedness to back in the incumbents, Carey will almost certainly get first crack in Pakistan, but the pressure will come if the team loses and his fortunes do not improve. Inglis will be breathing down his neck as Australia will not risk taking just the one wicketkeeper.
The common thread in Carey’s mistakes is they have all been with balls to his right. A marginally wider spacing with David Warner at first slip has minimised the chance of a communication breakdown, but his movement to take nicks from the outside edge of the right-hander is off.
“Technically he had a bit of an Achilles’ heel, Alex Carey, this series, just low to his right,” Haddin said on Triple M. “As the replay’s showing there now, he’s very flat-footed when he goes … you’re meant to be pushing hard off that left foot.
“All he’s doing, he’s dropping his right leg to make way. He’s not getting any power to go and get power out of that left foot to go for that catch.”
Gilchrist also pointed out the same technical flaws but urged critics to show patience in the man who he presented a baggy green to a month ago.
“Early in your Test career, whether it’s with bat, gloves or ball, don’t be too hard, don’t be too judgmental,” Gilchrist said.
“You can see the appreciation and warmth within the group, how highly they regard him, I don’t think we need to over-analyse or be overly critical.
“What I will say for Alex Carey, and this is all part of the learnings of Test cricket and the intensity and scrutiny of Test cricket, he seamlessly walked into Test cricket at the Gabba, and we all praised how relaxed he looked.”