Alex Carey v Jamie Smith: The pivotal Ashes battle that could make all the difference this summer

They’re not the first names on the lips of cricket fans when it comes to this summer’s Ashes game-breakers - but it could be the showdown which makes all the difference.

Prince Charming versus the fifth Beatle.

It sounds like the title of a children’s book but it may yet become the clash which decides the fate of next summer’s Ashes series.

Ian Healy calls wicket-keepers the drummers in the band but at any point in next season’s Ashes one could snatch the mic and punch out some lead vocals as well.

This Ashes series will feature a significant shootout between two outstanding keeper-batsmen - England’s Jamie Smith and Australia’s Alex Carey.

Both are in the form of their lives.

Alex Carey has been in terrific form with the bat. Picture: AP

Jamie Smith is scoring runs for fun for England. Picture: AP

Australia’s strength is England’s weakness. And vice-versa. But don’t be shocked if someone other than a batter or bowler decides the fate of the Ashes.

Smith, who with his thick fringe looks like the fifth Beatle and certainly bats with the up tempo rhythm of the Fab Four, is an extraordinary talent.

He made 184 not out and 88 in the just completed second Test against India which means after 12 Tests he has the astonishing returns of 997 runs at 58 and a bull-at-a-gate strike rate of 78.

That’s rare air and the people least surprised are long-time Surrey fans. He first played junior representative cricket in Surrey as a nine-year-old and played in their under-17 side along the likes of Tom Curran at age 12.

READ MORE: Player ratings: Battling Aussie top order bailed out yet again

Jamie Smith has averaged 58.64 from 20 innings for England, and has already amassed 997 runs in his Test career. Picture: Getty Images

Carey’s form is not as dam-busting but in a team struggling for runs, his consistency, fluency and fearlessness have been a godsend.

His batting average has now risen to a handsome 35.53, exceptional for a keeper and he would be getting much more credit had not Adam Gilchrist (47.6) made most others look as if they were batting with a carrot.

Carey grassed a sitter in the first Test against the West Indies in Barbados but in the second Test at Grenada he produced some splendid work, with the highlight an over-the-stumps snare from Justin Greaves off Nathan Lyon which cannoned off bat then pad.

The two keepers are the men in the middle of an intriguing balance of power where the teams have contrasting strengths and short suits.

If, as the saying goes, you would rather a team of great bowlers than batsmen Australia should win.

The foursome of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon did the job in the West Indies and relish playing on home soil.

Alex Carey’s form hasn’t been dam-busting as his English counterpart, but he’s been crucial to Australia’s Test success. Picture: AP Photo

England’s bowlers, by contrast, have been monstered by India in the first two Tests and unless they can nurse injury-plagued speed merchants Jofra Archer or Mark Wood through a Test or two in Australia then their hopes of snatching back the urn will surely be sentenced to death by sunstroke.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir would struggle to get a game of Sheffield Shield cricket.

But England’s batting looks robust, impressively cavalier and despite a second innings failure against India in Birmingham, settled and unlikely to change.

Joe Root and Harry Brook are the ICC’s top two ranked batsman with Ben Duckett coming in eighth and for once the rankings seem to be around the mark.

The winner of the Ashes could well be the team which gets the most out of their short suit - England’s bowling and Australia’s batting.

Originally published as Alex Carey v Jamie Smith: The pivotal Ashes battle that could make all the difference this summer