Alex Carey wants to remain Australia's one-day opener despite widespread calls to remove him from that slot after failing in the recently concluded three-match home ODI series against India.
Captain Aaron Finch experimented at the top with Carey in order to prolong the batting depth of his side. But the wicketkeeper batsman is most likely to make way for David Warner once the veteran left-hander returns from his one-year exile following proven role in the ball-tampering saga.
"I'd love to stay at the top, absolutely. I love batting with 'Finchy' and I love opening in T20 cricket and one-day cricket. It would be nice to have another opportunity up there," Carey, who managed just 47 runs across his three innings versus Virat Kohli's men, told the reporters on Tuesday, January 29.
"Obviously, there are some guys going really well around the country, there's some good competition happening in Australian cricket. That's only a positive. It's one of those things where the players in the squad right now are doing everything they can to say 'that's their spot, that's my position'."
"If they're performing and it makes it tough for the likes of Smith and Warner to come back in that's only stronger for Australian cricket. Lots' of 'ifs' and lots of questions to be asked and I guess we'll wait and see when the ban is lifted and see what that looks like."
Australia will now travel to India for two T20Is and five ODIs next month - a series integral part of their overall preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.
"I didn’t get the output (against India) I would have liked; a couple of starts which is pleasing to say you're ready for that level," Carey added, "To push through and get a couple of scores would have been really nice but to get a feel for the first 10 overs in an ODI was a really good experience."
"Hopefully I get more opportunity at the top of the order there but if I don't and it's back down the middle then, against South Africa I really enjoyed that role as well."
"There are 10 more games of ODIs leading into the World Cup and with our squad, we'll wait and see what the next squad is, but (it's important) to get that settled and a nice balance. I think we've seen England have their squad together for a couple of years now and they're gelling really well. I think we're really close."
(Inputs from cricket.com.au)
