Alex Carey, hailing from South Australia, initially pursued Australian Rules Football and even captained a side in 2010. After being dropped in 2012, he returned home and shifted focus to cricket, where his career began to flourish. Starting as a specialist batsman in grade cricket, Carey quickly realized the value of versatility and took up wicket-keeping duties. His hard work paid off, earning a rookie contract with South Australia in 2013–14 and later a senior contract in 2016–17. That season, Carey became only the fourth gloveman to score over 500 runs and effect 50 dismissals in a single Sheffield Shield campaign. Carey’s consistent domestic performances kept him in the selectors’ radar. With Matthew Wade struggling, Carey became a strong candidate for the 2017–18 Ashes but missed out to Tim Paine. He continued to excel domestically, earning a call-up as Australia’s white-ball wicket-keeper in late 2018. Carey quickly became the first-choice keeper, setting a World Cup record with 18 catches in the 2019 edition and later serving as vice-captain of the ODI side. He scored his maiden ODI century against England in 2020. With Tim Paine’s resignation, Carey joined the Test squad and received his Baggy Green during the 2021–22 Ashes. He scored his first Test century in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in 2022, becoming the first Australian wicket-keeper to do so since Brad Haddin in 2013. Carey was also part of Australia’s victorious XI in the 2023 World Test Championship final and contributed crucial runs in subsequent Ashes and New Zealand series. Carey has been involved in memorable moments, including the controversial run out of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes, which became an iconic highlight of the rivalry. As of now, he has transitioned to being a Test-match specialist, with Josh Inglis taking over limited-overs wicketkeeping duties, while Carey continues to deliver with the bat and gloves in red-ball cricket.
