Australia's unassuming match-winner, Alex Carey, has cemented his place in cricket history with a phenomenal Ashes performance that has drawn comparisons to the nation's greatest glovemen.
A Series for the Ages: Batting and Gloves in Harmony
While the fireworks of Mitchell Starc and Travis Head captured headlines during Australia's commanding 4-1 series victory over England, it was the quiet consistency of Alex Carey that formed a critical pillar of the triumph. His dual role, producing vital runs and breathtaking work behind the stumps, was arguably one of the standout contributions of the summer.
In a fitting finale, Carey was the man at the crease at the SCG on Thursday, striking the winning runs to seal the Ashes victory. That unbeaten knock took his series tally to 323 runs at an impressive average of 46.14. More remarkably, he effected 28 dismissals (27 catches and one stumping), falling just one short of Brad Haddin's all-time Ashes record set in 2013.
Entering the Pantheon with Gilchrist
These extraordinary numbers propelled Carey into truly rarefied air. He joined the legendary Adam Gilchrist as only the second wicketkeeper-batter in history to score 300 or more runs and claim 25-plus dismissals in a single Test series. This feat underscores a complete all-round performance, placing him among the very elite.
Perhaps the most daring aspect of his wicketkeeping was his willingness to stand up to the stumps for seamers Scott Boland and Michael Neser, who were operating at speeds over 130km/h. This tactical move brilliantly stifled England's 'Bazball' approach, preventing them from charging the bowlers and effectively locking them in their crease.
Praise from Captains and Legends Alike
Stand-in captain Steve Smith was effusive in his praise after the Sydney Test, calling Carey's display the finest glovework he has ever seen. "To be able to go up to the stumps to guys bowling late 130s (kph) and barely drop a ball, both offside and leg side, it was incredible," Smith said. "I have not seen a keeping performance like that. It was honestly incredible."
The plaudits flowed from Australia's keeping greats. Gilchrist himself hailed Carey's century in his home Test at Adelaide Oval as one for the "ages" and described his glovework as "sublime." Brad Haddin declared on radio, "You'll never see a better keeping display or a braver keeping display than this." Meanwhile, Ian Healy reached back to the post-war era for comparison, stating, "We have to go all the way back to Don Tallon for this sort of keeping performance."
This series also allowed Carey to firmly move past the lingering controversy of the 2023 Jonny Bairstow stumping in England. Through sheer, clinical excellence, his performances ended any murmurings and solidified his reputation as a world-class operator.
Typically modest, Carey deflected from his own achievements, praising the bowling group. "Whoever got a run did a fantastic job with the ball this summer," he said. However, the statistics and the acclaim from the game's icons tell the true story of a silent assassin who delivered a series-defining performance for Australia.
