Australia’s ODI vice-captain Alex Carey was ecstatic after winning the first ODI against India by 34 runs in SCG and has said that a series win over the Indian team “will mean a lot” considering the hosts’ struggles over the last 12 months.
The second ODI between Australia and India will be played in Adelaide on Jan 15. Meanwhile, Australia had won just 2 out of 18 ODIs in 2018. They had last defeated Pakistan 4-1 in ODI series in 2017.
“It would mean a lot, it has been a while. I want to see Australia win and being part of it means so much to us every game we play. But to continue to get better every game is probably our biggest process at the moment leading into that World Cup,” said Carey.
“Against India, they’re a really good side so they’re going to look to bounce back pretty quickly, so it’s going to be a great opportunity to stand up tomorrow night, to puff our chests out again and hopefully put another really good performance,” he said.
“I think the performance the other night is a really good step in the right direction. If you take a look at our batting performance, we all played well, we all played our role, and then with the ball having them three down early was pretty early. But having to break that big partnership between MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma and get over the line was, as a player, was a really amazing feeling out there,” Carey added.
“I think the other night was a really big step forward and we can improve from that, definitely. Obviously the three quicks that played the Test series and played last series aren’t in this series so it is a really good opportunity for Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson and Peter Siddle who all played really well the other night,” he said.
He also added, “It was a great opportunity for me too at the top of the order and Peter Handscomb coming back in. If you look across the list, there are so many opportunities for guys to put their hand up and really make a spot their own.”
Carey said that the Adelaide pitch might help spinners, as seen with Rashid Khan’s form in the Big Bash League, and if so, the team management might bring in Adam Zampa. Australia is yet to announce their playing XI for the second ODI.
“It (the pitch) favors Rashid Khan. But, I think Nathan Lyon bowled really well the other night and obviously, we have got Zampa to go if required. I think it will be quite a nice paced wicket.” Said Adelaide native Carey.
“I guess at the top there the role is to get us off to a good start and get us past the first ten overs, and then go to work through the middle overs. Working with Aaron Finch up the top, he is so experienced and so calm so to go out there with him to bounce off him it is pretty exciting opening the batting. But I think to have a taste of the middle overs in the last series was a really good experience and to open the batting in one-day cricket. I have done it a bit for South Australia in the Big Bash as well so it is a role I really enjoy,” he said.
(PTI inputs)
