Alex Carey on first Lord’s Test since infamous Ashes stumping

Alex Carey will return to Lord’s for a Test the first time since the infamous Jonny Bairstow stumping without fear or regret and living proof that what does not kill you makes you stronger.

Alex Carey is heading back to play a Test at Lord’s without fear or regret and living proof that what does not kill you makes you stronger.

The flak of the Jonny Bairstow stumping incident in an Ashes Test two years ago temporarily bruised him but he returns to Lord’s a stronger man for the experience and in the best form of his career.

“I’m excited,’’ wicketkeeper Carey said in Brisbane as he prepares for next month’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.

It will be his first Test at the home of cricket since the venue erupted in protest when he stumped English batsman Bairstow after he wandered out of his crease in the 2023 Ashes.

An MCC member has since been banned for life and two others copped suspension for “abusive, offensive or inappropriate behaviour’’ after the Long Room crowd turned on the Australians as they returned from the field at lunch on day five.

The image of Jonny Bairstow walking out of his crease has reached cricket immortality. Picture: Channel 9

Australian players were heckled as they passed through the Long Room of Lords after the incident.

“It’s been a couple of years now and you sort of decompress it and understand it a bit more.

“It sits really comfortably with me now but it’s a tough series to play in, and you sort of just bottle it up a little bit. I had a one-dayer at Lord’s not too long ago and I didn’t cop any stick. Hopefully we will get a few cheers.

“It sits really comfortably with me now. You mature a bit in life.’’

The dismissal triggered a global debate over the merits of the law versus the spirit of cricket but Carey has never regretted it.

“I think knowing what I did was 100 per cent fine ... I said at the time I would not change anything. I am a person who likes to be liked. As soon as that stuff happens you get the spotlight. All I want to do is go out and play cricket and do my job.

“My first game after it was at Yorkshire and I copped a little bit there, but nothing outside the cricket field.’’

Alex Carey is in hot form, with big Test knocks in recent series against Sri Lanka and India. Picture: AFP

Carey recently revealed on a Howie Games podcast he and some teammates received a threatening letter in the Test after the Bairstow incident which somehow found its way through security to be delivered to the dressing room.

“It wasn’t just addressed to me personally, there was a few others as well,” Carey said. “The Ashes is pretty hotly contested. It’s not ideal, but I guess you open yourself up to that when you play professional sport and learn to deal with those things.’’

Carey’s Test batting average has risen to above 35 – outstanding for a ’keeper – and he is the form of his life with his 156 in a Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last summer being followed by innings of 41, 69, 104, 56, 24 and 105 for state and country.

A break last off-season enabled him to take stock and he worked some technical changes like getting his hands higher.

Alex Carey scored a century for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield final. Picture: Getty Images

It’s 15 years since Carey temporarily gave up cricket to sign up with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the AFL. He captained the Giants in the TAC Cup but was overlooked for a berth in their first squad in the AFL.

“I am a footy nuffy,” he said. “I watch every game in the AFL. I still really love it – when I go away I watch all the shows and listen to all the shows. It is a way to take your mind off cricket for a little bit.

“I still hear a lot from people like Mark Williams who messages me a lot. He loves his sport. If I play a reverse sweep when I should not have he will tell me about it. He still has the coach in him and we have got the relationship to do that.’’