BGT 2024: Alex Carey not expecting another '36 all out' from India in pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval

Australia are trailing 0-1 in the five-Test series after losing to India in Perth.

By Salman Anjum - 03 Dec, 2024

Ahead of the pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide, Alex Carey stated that the hosts don’t anticipate a repeat of India's 36 all-out debacle from the previous day-night Test at the same venue back in 2020.

The Adelaide Test will get underway on December 6 and India will have an edge this time around, having won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth by 295 runs.

"There are obviously amazing days in cricketing history. But no, we do not go out there expecting to do that again. We have a process and a plan and try to execute,” Carey said during the pre-match press conference.

“And whatever happens, happens. But I was not here for that Test match. I tried to get in, but I missed it. It happened too quickly. But yeah, we are excited. I think we should take a lot and we do take a lot of confidence out of our record with pink ball cricket. It does not mean we will have the success. But I think our methods, our style of play and the experience we have in this group will bounce back from Perth," he added.

During the first Test, Australian batters struggled to cope with the bouncy Perth pitch, registering scores of 104 and 238 in the two innings.

On Day 3 of the series opener, Josh Hazlewood made a comment that seemed to suggest frustration with the team's batters, sparking speculations of a potential rift in the dressing room.

However, Alex Carey refuted such rumours, saying that the team is cohesive and the batters are motivated to improve.

"Look, I think if you ask the batters, we all want to perform better. And, you know, cricketers, you go out there to score 100. And if you do not do that, I think you are at times disappointed. But, yeah, we are a very united group. We all do get the opportunity to bat. And we are all keen to continue to put those big runs on the board. And I trust the guys to do that. So, excited for them to see them here with another opportunity," he said.

Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc on the Australian batting line-up in Perth, returning with eight wickets in the match. This performance also helped him regain the top spot in the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings.

Speaking about Australia’s tactics to combat Bumrah, Carey said, "He is obviously a fantastic bowler, has been for a number of years. Our batters are world-class as well and always find ways to come up with solutions. And we have had a look at him now, so hopefully we can combat that first, second spell, get him bowling a little bit deeper in the innings. With an older ball, we saw Travis (Head) sort of a bit of a counterpunch."

"So I trust our batters will find a way. Not only Bumrah, they played a couple of other debutants (Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy) who bowled well as well," he added.

In contrast to the team's feelings, Carey stated that the response to the first Test loss has been fairly strong. "But we know over four, five test matches, we keep rocking up and playing our style of cricket. We will have the success. We have had that success to, I guess, call upon the method does work. So, you know, like I said, we are calm internally. We are excited to get back out and play and play a better style of cricket. And we have got that opportunity come Friday," he concluded.

By Salman Anjum - 03 Dec, 2024

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