Returning to the scene of his maiden Test century, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey believes a tumultuous 2023 has steeled him to further his fortunes into the future in all forms of cricket.
A year after scoring a century against South Africa at the MCG, the 32-year-old is entrenched in Australia’s world-leading Test team and preparing for the match against Pakistan beginning on Boxing Day, but sidelined in short-form cricket.
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But Carey, who was dropped from the Australian team which claimed the ODI World Cup in India one game into the tournament, is determined to reclaim his spot in white-ball cricket with the T20 World Cup looming on the horizon midway through 2024.
“One hundred percent. I still feel like I’ve had some pretty solid performances in the last 12 months in one day cricket,” he said.
“Obviously the timing of a leaner trot led to that decision from the selection panel. But absolutely, I feel like I’ve got a lot of good one day cricket (and) lots of T20 cricket left in me.”
Carey, who was the target of significant criticism from English cricketers and pundits for his successful runout of Jonny Bairstow during the Lords Test in July, said he had learned a significant amount about himself and his approach to cricket in 2023.
“Any time there are parts of your life to learn from and situations that go against what you like, you see it as an opportunity to grow and learn as a person and, I guess, who you are as a player,” he said.
“You go out and put a smile on your face and realise … we’re still doing a pretty amazing job for our country. It’s a dream. I’m really excited for this week.
“I was pretty excited last week to get back out there and play with the ‘Baggy Green’ on, but any setbacks, I try to use them in my favour to learn, to grow, to get better.”
The 32-year-old, who celebrated his 100th dismissal in Test cricket in the opening Test against Pakistan in Perth last week, conceded being dropped during the World Cup stung.
But he said Australian coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey were honest in the feedback they provided when informing him he would be replaced by Josh Inglis in India.
Carey, who said he would like to play more T20 cricket in particular next year, struggled for form with the bat leading into the World Cup but feels he has taken the advice on board.
“It never makes it easy to hear (that) you’re going to be left out,” he said.
“(But) you get time to reflect and then sit down and speak to each and every one of them to find out … the reasons. And then all you can do is go to work on trying to improve in certain areas.
“You want to be able to have a panel who can have those honest conversations. You don’t want to be going to bed at night wondering why and I didn’t, so … although you still don’t like to hear it, you’re able to talk through it and move on and help the team win the World Cup.”
Carey made 34 in the opening innings of Australia’s dominant 360-run triumph over Pakistan at Perth Stadium and was not required to bat in the second innings after Australia declared.
That followed an 81 Carey made for South Australia against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield at Adelaide Oval last month, which suggests he is finding form with the bat.
The Australian said the host nation is determined to continue to apply pressure to Pakistan in the hopes of sealing a successful season with a series-winning triumph at the MCG.
The hosts had a non-compulsory session on Saturday in Melbourne, with veteran opener David Warner and champion off-spinner Nathan Lyon among the Australians to hit the nets.
“It’s been a successful year for this group and it’s not over yet,” Carey said.
“There is no sort of end goal for this group. It’s a journey and, at the moment, it’s a lot of fun.”
Pakistan, which is finetuning its preparation in a practice match against a Victorian XI at the Junction Oval being held behind closed doors, experienced another setback on Saturday.
After losing fast bowler Khurram Shazhad, who took five wickets in Perth, for the rest of the series with a stress fracture in a rib, spinner Noman Ali has been ruled out as well.
The 37-year-old had his appendix removed on Friday after complaining of “sudden and severe abdominal pain” in Melbourne, which led to surgery on Saturday morning.
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