‘Happy not to face another ball’: Why hero Carey didn’t care about missing out on a century in gutsy chase

Christchurch: Stand up when you need to.

That’s been one of the themes of the Australian Test team under Pat Cummins, particularly over a recent run where the batting unit has not been “fully functioning”, to use the captain’s phrase.

Pat Cummins and Alex Carey celebrate victory in Christchurch.Credit: Getty Images

At Hagley Oval, from 4-34 and then 5-80, the tourists had very little right to chase down 279 and maintain a 13-year unbeaten run against New Zealand, inspired as they have been by Matt Henry (nine wickets for the match) and the speedy debutant Ben Sears (4-90 for the innings).

But just at the moment of most need, Alex Carey did not just stand up, he towered over the final day. A marvellous and highly intelligent 98 not out fully repaid the faith of his captain Cummins, teammates and the national selectors. There were none of the brain fades that have recently afflicted Carey; just a constant stream of wise decisions and crisp shots as the Australian wicketkeeper not only led the way for his country but shored up his position for next summer’s all-important series against India.

“It’s probably the way I play a little bit, at times I try to create a little bit too much,” Carey said. “[I was] a little bit disappointed with the first game’s dismissals [in Wellington]. But today I kept to a really solid plan, read the conditions, read the bowlers and the partnership as well.

“We always felt pretty confident. Losing that wicket [Mitch Marsh] halts a bit of momentum, but then the way that Patty kept the scoreboard going I think we’ve seen in the biggest matches, the skipper came through again.”

Fittingly, it was Cummins at the other end for a sealing stand of 61. Their celebrations at the end were filled with deep delight, delivering a 2-nil series win, precious World Test Championship points away from home and ending 18 months of constant cricket on a joyous note.

“At times I don’t think we’ve played our best cricket and still found a way to win,” Cummins said. “In a couple of previous summers we’ve blown teams out of the water. This summer wasn’t the case, but at the key moment someone stood up, and we’ve found a way to win.

“It’s similar to the ODI World Cup, where you keep finding a way, even if it’s not fully functioning; the whole unit. One of our biggest strengths is the experience we have. In those key moments being able to draw on that knowledge, it’s valuable. You always look at the best 11 players to win, but we’re in no rush to make rash changes.”

Plenty of credit was due, as well, to Mitch Marsh, who stuck bravely to his best attacking method through an innings of 80 that featured plenty of good fortune but a hearty helping of the powerful shots that have made him Australia’s No.6.

Carey finished 98 not out.Credit: AP

Marsh had been dropped from Tim Southee’s first ball of the day, a cut shot put down by Rachin Ravindra at point. When Head crashed the very next ball to Will Young at shortish point, that miss appeared not to matter too much.

Carey started his innings calmly, but on 19 he was given out lbw to Henry. From around the wicket, Henry beat Carey’s forward stroke, only for a review to show the ball was angling in and seaming further past leg stump.

From there, Carey and Marsh played with good sense and proactivity, and the target was rapidly whittled down. Any thoughts the Black Caps might have had of getting the second new ball were gone by lunch, with 105 required from 47 overs.

Marsh and Carey got going again in the afternoon session, raising a meritorious century stand and then getting to within 59 of victory when Southee called on Sears. Fast and straight, his second ball beat Marsh’s flick and was judged to be hitting leg stump by Marais Erasmus, standing in his last Test. Ball-tracking proved this correct, ending the partnership at 140.

When Mitchell Starc bunted his first ball straight to midwicket, the Christchurch crowd rose as one, and Sears roared at the chance of a hat-trick. Cummins was duly asked to reprise his innings against England to win at Edgbaston last year: he was drawn into playing at an away-swinger first ball, but the edge scuttled away through slips for four.

With 42 runs still to get, Carey upper-cut Sears within millimetres of the outstretched right hand of Glenn Phillips at backward point, but the ball stayed just out of reach despite a despairing leap.

As he had done to great effect alongside Glenn Maxwell against Afghanistan in the World Cup, Cummins trusted his defence against the spin of Phillips, but was more expansive against the pace of Sears. Drinks arrived with 31 to win.

Carey’s self-control was demonstrated by how he completely avoided sweeping while batting with Marsh. When he faced Phillips again in Cummins’ company, Carey chose the right moment for the shot, going in front of square then paddling behind for damaging boundaries in consecutive balls.

At the other end, Cummins has long proven his smarts with the bat under pressure, as shown by a fourth innings Test average of better than 30 runs.

In the end, Carey fell short of a century. Cummins cuffed the winning runs through point and admitted later he did not realise Carey was so close.

“I had no idea he was on 98,” Cummins told TVNZ before accepting the Trans-Tasman Trophy.

For his part, Carey was “pretty happy I didn’t have to face another ball, I was pretty up and about at that stage and might have played a rash shot with the energy going the way it was”, he told ABC Radio, after also claiming 10 catches in the match.

In playing the vital innings for the team and himself, Carey did not care about missing the ton. He more than showed his value here, and will take the gloves against India in November.

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