Alex Carey set to make Test debut in Ashes opener
Alex Carey is set to be named as Australia’s wicketkeeper for the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba.
Carey and Josh Inglis have been the favourites to replace Tim Paine with the gloves against Australia’s old rivals.
This after Paine stepped down as captain of the side earlier this month for his involvement in a sexting scandal with an ex-colleague.
Paine subsequently said he will be taking a break from all forms of cricket and will, subsequently, not be available for selection for the home Ashes series.
Whilst Paine and Inglis have been locked in a selection showdown in recent weeks, Inglis has since been released from quarantine and have returned home to Perth.
He will be joined by fellow T20 World Cup squad members Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar, who have also flown out of Queensland.
Possible future skipper
Carey has represented Australia in 83 limited-overs matches, and captained Australia A during the 2020/21 season.
He has also led Australia’s one-day side this year, and has been earmarked as a possible future captain by coach Justin Langer.
Carey has also previously kept wicket to Australia’s fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, which might be a contributing factor for the selections.
Inglis, meanwhile, has had a rapid rise through the ranks in Australian domestic cricket and was touted by former skipper Ricky Ponting as an able replacement behind the wickets.
Further clues of what the Australia side for the first Test might look like might have been found during the intra-squad match that was scheduled to start on Wednesday.
But with wet weather expected in the area, a centre-wicket session rather than a tune-up fixture is expected, and no sides will be named for the ‘match’.
The first Test against the visiting England side starts on December 8 in Brisbane.
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.