Australian great Adam Gilchrist has backed Alex Carey’s vow to “keep the dream alive” when it comes to his aspirations to reclaim his spot in the nation’s short-form cricket sides.
The legendary wicketkeeper-batsman believes Carey, who was dropped in the infancy of Australia’s ODI World Cup triumph, should be aspiring to play as much cricket as possible.
Gilchrist told Fox Cricket’s The Follow On podcast that he believes the left-hander, who was unbeaten on 16 at stumps on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, may actually extend his Test career by striving to improve his skills in all forms of the sport.
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“I actually like the fact that he has spoken so openly about his desire to get back into that white ball team. I see no reason for him to shut down that goal,” Gilchrist told The Follow On.
“I don’t think it changes anything in his life by the way he goes about his cricket, the way he trains. I don’t think he sits at home and worries about it, so it is not draining him of mental energy and perhaps affecting his Test cricket.
“I think it is terrific. He is hungry to play for Australia as much as he possibly can and if it never happens again, it won’t be through a lack of trying.
“I think being incentivised to keep improving and keep developing will only enhance his Test cricket as well, even if it is using white ball cricket as a motivation.”
Carey’s form with the bat has dipped since his run-out of Jonny Bairstow during the infamous Ashes Test at Lord’s sparked a furore but his work behind the stumps has been strong.
It is now a year since the left-hander made his maiden Test century at the MCG against South Africa but he batted well in the World Test Championship final and in the infancy of the Ashes. But he is yet to make a half-century in 11 innings since the first Test in Birmingham.
Carey averages almost 33 in ODIs but suffered a lean spell in 2023 aside from scoring 99 against South Africa in a match at Centurion in September.
After scoring a duck five innings after that outing in the opening match of the World Cup against India, selectors called on Josh Inglis for the remainder of the tournament.
“I still feel like I’ve had some pretty solid performances over the last 12 months in one-day cricket,” Carey said last week ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
“The timings of the leaner trot led to that decision from the selection panel (during the World Cup). But absolutely I feel like I’ve got a lot of one-day cricket and T20 cricket left in me.”
Gilchrist, who presented Carey with his ‘Baggy Green’ cap ahead of his Test debut against England in 2021, said selectors were vindicated in their decision to opt for Inglis over Carey in India. But he believes the Test wicketkeeper was capable of bouncing back.
“The decision by the selectors to go with Josh Inglis in the World Cup was justified,” Gilchrist said.
“He contributed nicely to that World Cup win. But I think Alex Carey would have done a very serviceable job there as well.
“Credit to the selectors. They had something in mind with it and they have a World Cup to show for it, but that should not put Alex Carey off.
“I think he is a good all-round cricketer and I would say the main thing is that his work ethic is unrelenting and he will do that whether he is playing one day cricket or not.
“But I would say keep the dream alive, because that inspires him.”
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