Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey’s performance behind the stumps in Brisbane has been applauded as one of the finest wicketkeeping efforts in Ashes history. Throughout the second Test, Carey showed courage and athleticism that underpinned Australia’s dominance. He finished the match with an impressive seven catches, and what was most outstanding was the manner in which he took them.
Noticeably, Carey spent much of the match stationed up to the stumps to Scott Boland and Michael Neser. By standing up, Carey effectively controlled England’s batters into the crease, denying them the freedom to move and disrupt the bowlers’ rhythm. Not only behind the wickets, but Carey was also instrumental with the bat, scoring a cracking 63 off 69 in the first innings.
"Self-reflection, yeah, pretty proud of my efforts out there. Thought opportunities to come up to the stumps against some really good bowling, and the boys were able to beat the bat. So I thought I did a good job for the team. I also thought the bowlers did an amazing job to create those chances," Carey told cricket.com.au.
Carey revealed that much of what he executed behind the stumps was driven by instinct rather than rigid planning.
"I don't practice up to the stumps against fast bowling, I think that probably could be a little bit dangerous at times. You work on the fundamentals of the game, and for me that's keeping up to the stumps to Nathan Lyon a lot but doing my drills in the nets with a nick bat, getting throws, trying to get in good positions," he said.
"Then when you are in a game of cricket I feel like your instincts take over most of the time, so trusting the positions that I'm in then hoping my instinct takes over and I get into the right position to hang onto them."