‘He’s my best mate’: Travis Head thrilled to play with Alex Carey in Ashes opener

They’ve played together for years at state level, they live around the corner from each other, and now Alex Carey and Travis Head are about to become Test teammates.

Travis Head will play with his best mate Alex Carey in the first Test. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Travis Head is over the moon that his return to the Test side will coincide with the debut of his “best mate” Alex Carey.

It was announced on Sunday that Head had edged out Usman Khawaja and won the race to bat at No. 5 in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

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Meanwhile, Carey, Head’s long-term teammate at domestic level, has been named as Tim Paine’s replacement behind the stumps.

Carey has been a stand-in captain at ODI level, so it appeared only a matter of time until he earned his maiden baggy green, and come Wednesday, no one will be cheering him on louder than Head.

“It’s great to be seeing his journey,” Head told reporters on Monday.

“We live around the corner from each other, we’re best mates. I can’t wait for it, it’s going to be an awesome experience.”

Travis Head and Alex Carey hug it out after the wicketkeeper made a century against Queensland late last month.

The good times appear as if they will keep on rolling for two of South Australia’s finest cricketers.

Barring injury or disaster, Head and Carey look set to run out in front of their home crowd at Adelaide Oval together from December 16 after the South Australian Cricket Association confirmed on Monday it would not consider swapping Tests with its beleaguered West Australian counterpart.

“Playing in front of our home fans is going to be awesome,” Head said.

Carey belted a century in his most recent knock for South Australia, but his form prior to that Marsh Cup hitout had been far from convincing – the one-time AFL hopeful hadn’t made it out of single figures in any of his six innings prior.

But Head said he had full confidence that Carey had put the slump behind him.

“I know there’s been a lot talking about his form running into this series, but with 100 in that last game, it just showed the form that he’s in,” Head said.

“He’s been working extremely hard.

“Now he knows he’s in (the side), he can relax, go out and play the way Alex does.”

Head knows that the first Ashes Test could well be the start of something big for his close mate.

“I think he can take a lot of games away from teams over what is hopefully a long Test career,” Head said.

“I can’t wait for him to nail it.”

Head has scored two first-class centuries so far this summer and also scored a devastating 230 runs in the first Marsh Cup clash against Queensland. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Head, too, is feeling relaxed ahead of his Test recall.

The 27-year-old was dropped from the side after last year’s Boxing Day Test, but with an Ashes series and a purple patch of domestic form already under his belt, he doesn’t feel he has a point to prove now that he’s back in the fray.

“Having played in an Ashes series, I know how big the atmosphere is, the build-up,” he said.

“I’ve definitely come into this camp a lot more relaxed. I feel like I’m ready to go, so it’s about enjoying what comes now.

“It’s great that it’s around the corner, and once we get started, it’s going to be even better.”