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While he can feel for Matthew Wade and even Peter Nevill, Adam Gilchrist says he will understand if selectors opt for bolter Alex Carey as Australia’s wicketkeeper for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.
Whatever they decide, Gilchrist hopes the selectors show faith for the whole series so the gloveman gets the chance to “launch a career”.
Wade is under pressure to retain the gloves for the Ashes opener at the Gabba from November 23 after being replaced by part-time ‘keeper Peter Handscomb during the recent one-day tour of India.
Wade is out of form with the bat and copped renewed criticism of his glovework after conceding a total of 30 byes in Australia’s historic first Test loss to Bangladesh in August.
But former Test skipper Gilchrist stood up for Wade, hinting that the Tasmanian native had been harshly judged.
“Wade has come in and six of his 10 Tests back have been on the sub continent – the most difficult wicketkeeping and batting conditions you will come across,” Gilchrist told AAP.
“The player group will probably hope he is shown a bit of faith by the selectors, given a chance back home.”
The man Wade replaced in the Test side, NSW’s Nevill is believed to be in the mix again while unheralded South Australian Carey is considered another option
Gilchrist still seemed to be scratching his head over why Nevill was dropped in the first place.
Nevill was among sweeping changes made to the Test team after their nightmare innings-and-80-run defeat to South Africa in Hobart last summer.
The Blues gloveman responded by peeling off three Sheffield Shield tons following his axing and has worked with ex-Test keeper Ian Healy to fine tune his technique.
“I think Nevill was a bit harshly treated, when they made the wholesale changes last summer,” Gilchrist said.
“I didn’t think he was missing anything with the gloves really.
“And he got a 60-odd the game before. He was probably the victim of a failing top order.”
Gilchrist still didn’t have a problem with dark horse Carey receiving a baggy green at the Gabba – as long as selectors ‘pick and stick’.
Carey is in the mix ahead of the Ashes after being named as the only gloveman for Australia A’s tour of South Africa earlier this year.
“They might want to start afresh with Carey. I understand the different points of view,” Gilchrist said.
“Either way they go I can understand.
“And there is so much cricket between now and the first Test, whoever gets it done in those Shield games will probably get the opportunity.
“But whoever they pick, stick with them for a while, try and get some stability there.
“It is up to the player to warrant selection but if the selectors give them a decent run it could really launch a career.”
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