When the call came, Alex Carey was ready.
After a tight quad ruled Josh Inglis out of Thursday's opening one-day international with England, Carey got the gloves on in Nottingham, keeping tidily, but neither batting nor taking a catch. It was not the eye-catching opportunity he may have wanted.
Two days later at Headingley, with Inglis still sidelined, his chance came and he took it.Â
Coming to the wicket with Australia 4-145 midway through the innings he soon found himself with just the bowlers for company and a very inadequate 6-161 on the scoreboard. The chance for England to level the series loomed.
Carey, however, marshalled the tail superbly, never more so than in a last-wicket stand of 49 in eight overs with Josh Hazlewood.Â
He farmed the strike, hit eight fours and three sixes, and steered Australia to what proved a very defendable 270 before being last out for a 67-ball 74.
It was hard to believe he had last batted in March, in a Test match in Christchurch.Â
Then he took two catches, including a brilliant one-handed legside catch to dismiss the dangerous Liam Livingstone first ball.Â
Aaron Hardie and Australia are on fire 🔥— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) Liam Livingstone falls first ball ğŸ�´ó �§ó �¢ó �¥ó �®ó �§ó �¿ pic.twitter.com/AIHtYk9NQQSeptember 21, 2024 Carey took a superb legside catch to dismiss Liam Livingstone
"It's been a pretty quiet winter for me. It's been nice to spend some time at home with the family, freshen up," said Carey to Sky Sports."It's been a pretty busy schedule the last few years, and to have that time at home with the family's been crucial.Â
"There's been a bit of pre-season work. It's pretty cold in Australia, so to spend some time indoors and work on your game, it's been nice."
With Josh Inglis being four years his junior the 33-year-old South Australian agreed it was a case of taking every opportunity that came his way.
"[Josh] is a great young player. I've sat on the bench the last little period for the Australian team and the ODIs and it's nice to get back out. An opportunity popped up - who knows how long I'll last but it's it's been great fun."Â
One spectator who was impressed with Carey was Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, also a wicketkeeper-batter, on commentary duties.Â
"He came in in a very tough situation and after a long break, and the way he took on responsibility was great," said Sangakkara.
"The way he shepherded the last wicket, and the runs he scored, the boundaries he hit - without his innings I think they would have been very short."
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