It was the day Alex Carey finally took the bat as a Test Centurion, the day David Warner lifted his racket and left the MCG after being ejected from the first ball. It was the day Cameron Green fought one of the world’s most vile bowling attacks and broke his finger with 157 deliveries, the day Mitchell Stark performed an evil spell on his bloodied middle finger, and his It was the day my pants were dyed red.
All of this took place on a day that saw a shortened match due to a drastic change in the weather in Melbourne. So much so that it seems they have changed venues, moved not only to another stadium, but to another city. As frowned upon as it was at the end, it was also a day full of hellish moments early on.
But in the midst of it was Carrie’s class. It’s been a year of strengthening for the Australian Test wicketkeeper, who was pushed onto the big stage following Tim Payne’s situation last summer. There was a time when I could see you trying. He never looked out of place or looked down from the depths at some point.
Two tests away from home followed. Meanwhile, the South Australian left-hander, like everything else, began to establish his identity quietly and unobtrusively behind the stumps of Baggy Green. His wicket keeping continued to improve, but he also started producing important shots. In Karachi he had 93, in Lahore he had 67, and finally in Pakistan he helped him to a 15-day victory. But it was his 45-year-old with an angry Turner in goal that said much about his growing confidence as a Test player. There he cleared and wiped out the Sri Lankans in their own caves without fear of the world. These innings resulted in another more confident carry coming into his second summer of Test cricket at home. Even the hardest surface of Gabba could catch a glimpse of it. But on Wednesday (December 28), the 31-year-old seemed to belong at this level less than during the rather sensational smash that took Australia to a series win in Melbourne.
One might glance at the scorecard and assume that the initial test tone for the carry was recorded after the besieged enemy had already taken damage…but even suggesting that would be highly unfair. Because Carey’s first challenge of the day was to survive another fiery and intimidating spell cast by Henrich Nolce. That too, when the fiery and intimidating fast bowler knocked Travis Head and Warner out of back-to-back deliveries. He also appeared to be spitting fire out of both flared nostrils, adding to that in his wild celebration after both breakthroughs. and never looked more carefree as he calmly beat him offside. It was high-class batting against high-class bowling that saw Carey come out on top. Some of his trips, especially offside, were as good as any we’ve seen on these shores in a long time…a perfect combination of flow, timing and elegance.
And he did so without actually appearing to be fighting fire with fire. It really sums up Alex Carey, man and cricketer.
Nothing about him really fits the description you get from narrating his sports journey. A former Aussie Rules footballer, he is a very aggressive hitter and a serious competitor. None of this comes across when you first meet him. Also the way he handles cricket. Every aspect of Carrie has this disarmed sincerity that adds to his natural friendliness.
So it’s no wonder he forged such a bond with someone who was as disarmed as he was. Carrie said so, admitting that she didn’t want anyone else to share this beautiful moment with him. But for Carey, it was further proof of just how close the two had become on and off the field. It’s a surprisingly compelling dynamic that has blossomed out of today’s field of caring. Despite the age difference, there is almost no hierarchy between them. Except for how Carrie backs up Green whenever one of his older teammates jokingly takes some liberties at the expense of a towering all-rounder.
Even before the wicketkeeper raised his bat, it was only natural that Green began celebrating Carey’s centenary.If Green came to his maiden barrel with him on the other side, Carey would do the same. will do
Needless to say, Green struggled long into the inning with a broken index finger on his lower hand, taking almost all the power out of his horizontal batting shots. It was a knock that propelled him further into locker room view. Not that Carrie thinks of him any higher than she already does.
Then it was Stark’s turn to earn backstage acclaim again. After oddly punching down center for several minutes and dodging blows to the helmet in seemingly perfect bowling conditions, he began to penetrate while enduring pain and agony in his injured finger. But it was Carey that day who not only showed that he belonged on this stage, but that he would stay here. Of course, Captain Green is watching him on the other side.