Alex Carey is likely to take gloves for Australia in the first Ashes Test against England.
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, on Wednesday (December 1), said that Alex Carey's experience in white-ball international cricket will help him adjust to Test cricket, as he is likely to make his Test debut and take the gloves in the first Ashes 2021-22 Test against England in Brisbane.
Ahead of the Ashes 2021-22 at home, Australia was left without a wicketkeeper after Tim Paine took an "indefinite mental health break" following his resignation as Test captain over the sexting scandal.
Carey, who has so far played 83 white-ball internationals for Australia, is now seen as most likely to replace Paine as Australia’s wicketkeeper in the first Test, after another hopeful Josh Inglis returned to Western Australia.
Green told reporters: “Alex has been around for quite a while now in that international set-up and I’m sure all the confidence he’s gained from playing all the one-dayers will hold him in good stead.”
He added, “The experience that he brings, he’s got a really good record in one-day cricket, he’s really held that position down really well. Both the guys they could have gone for are world-class.”
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old all-rounder made his Test debut in Adelaide against India last December and averaged 33.71 over the four Tests he played so far, with a high score of 84, but hasn’t taken a single wicket, and he said that repeated stress fractures over the last four years had limited his bowling.
However, Green was confident of making a more meaningful contribution with the ball in hand this season as he is gearing up for the upcoming Ashes series against England.
He signed off by saying, “I think heading into the test summer last year, I was a bit down on confidence -- obviously the last few years I hadn't bowled much and had a few restrictions. So I'm sure this year, I've played most games bowling and that will hold me in good stead. There won't be as many nerves flying around this year, I'm really looking forward to it and hopefully, I can help out.”
(With Reuters Inputs)