Less than a year ago Peter Nevill shaped as Australia’s long-term Test wicketkeeper, but now he seems to have tumbled down the pecking order ahead of this summer’s Ashes.
Nevill’s stocks have nosedived after being dumped from Cricket Australia’s contract list in favour of Test and ODI gloveman Matt Wade and then being overlooked for next month’s Australia A series for upcoming keeper Alex Carey.
This gives the impression Nevill may well be third in line for the Test keeping spot behind Wade and 25-year-old Carey, who is fresh from a breakout Sheffield Shield season.
(AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS)
The Redbacks ‘keeper became just the fourth player in the competition’s history to pass 500 runs and 50 catches in a season en route to breaking the all-time dismissals record with 59.
Not only was he clean and athletic behind the stumps, whether standing back to the quicks or up to the spinners, but Carey also showed a preparedness to scrap his way to tough runs in the middle order.
Carey has generous talent with the blade, having played his first three Shield matches as an opening batsman. Yet he still owns a modest first-class record of 794 runs at 26, with no centuries.
Those numbers are particularly unflattering when compared to the record of Nevill, who has piled up 4264 runs at 40, with nine tons. The former Test keeper, who was dropped for Wade last summer, rebounded from his axing with a dominant Shield campaign in which he cracked 625 runs at 57, including three tons.
It wasn’t a surprise to see Nevill left off the Cricket Australia contract list, considering that the list often only contains one wicketkeeper. But Nevill must have been concerned when he was absent from the Australia A squad for the tour of South Africa, which kicks off two weeks from now with a pair of four-day matches followed by five 50-over games.
Carey is expected to keep wicket in each of those seven fixtures as the only gloveman picked for the tour. If Nevill was being seriously considered for the Ashes it would be strange for him to be left out of such a valuable winter tune-up against strong opposition.
The selection of Carey seems to be a sign that Australia are continuing to plump for youth after regenerating their Test line-up last summer. That overhaul saw Australia dump five players – Nevill, Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie – after their humiliating loss to South Africa in the second Test at Hobart.
Rather than picking veteran domestic batsmen, as they had done so often over the previous decade, Australia introduced youngsters Matt Renshaw (20 years old), Nic Maddinson (24) and Peter Handscomb (25).
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Handscomb and Renshaw have enjoyed generous Test success, which may well have convinced the selectors to continue to invest in youth. Given that he will be 32 years old by the time the Ashes starts, Nevill’s age may well count against him.
That’s not to suggest his Test career is over. But if the much younger Carey has a commanding tour of South Africa he may well push Nevill firmly into third place. Wade will get a chance to cement his Ashes spot on Australia’s upcoming two-Test tour of Bangladesh.
After initially struggling on his return to the Test team, Wade had a fine Test series in India, during which Australia produced comfortably their best performance in Asia for many years.
That effort will have bought him some time. That same metric appears to be running out for Nevill. Carey has a chance in the coming weeks to push the former Test gloveman deep into the shadows.
Ed Nixon
Roar Pro
As someone who lives in WA I'd love to see Sam Whiteman's name thrown around there. He's a great talent with the bat and gloves, but I feel he is one of those players whose careers might dogged by injuries.
George
Guest
He is. And he's being wasted while a dreadful player has tenure in all forms of the game.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I thought Nevill was poor in his Test stint. He really underperformed with the bat and his keeping was only passable. He's a much better player than he showed in that stint.
Bretto
Guest
Nevill should never have been dropped for Wade in the first place.
George
Guest
Poor compared to Wade?
AREH
Roar Guru
I was never in favour of Wade being picked initially; but once he is picked they are far better off persisting with him for some time than discarding him promptly, and having three different keepers inside 12 months. He's been serviceable with the bat since returning to the test team, but they still need more from him. Until Carey can put together a second consecutive Shield season of quality, I struggle to see who is beating the door down to replace Wade.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Stanlake, Heazlett, Doran at Tassy, just to name a few off the top of my head. There are plenty of players getting State and international spots.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Come on, the second year is completely relevant, especially when everyone seems more concerned with their batting than their keeping, which is more than just catching a ball. I have no issue with Carey getting the A gig. There are no other options really, Whiteman is a big concern with his Paine like injury, Nevill they know and his early Shield numbers will burn him or keep him in the hunt. I don't think any of the other keepers have stood out enough.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
I worry Whiteman is the next Tim Paine. Injuries impacting his chances of an extended run as keeper only to look back and think 'maybe if I hung up the gloves years ago I could have played 50 tests at number 6'
Mike Dugg
Guest
Nevill was poor with the gloves in his last test series in Sri Lanka. And his batting average after around 20 tests is the worst of all current test keepers. He had his chance
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"What you are saying is they should pick him on potential, but that is the problem with most selections in Aus cricket in recent years." Rellum apart from a few instances like Mitch Marsh and Maddinson I don't think the selectors have been duped by the "potential" of young players. Rather they have frequently gone for the safest option, picking veteran domestic players (particularly batsmen) who had next to no upside at all - the likes of Doolan, Quiney, Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Voges, Ferguson, Bailey and North.
Nudge
Guest
2nd year is irrelevant for keepers. You can either catch or you can't. Opposition aren't going to work out your glove work. As it stands Carey is a heck of a lot better gloveman than the current test keeper after only 3 years in the job compared to Wade's 20. I'm not calling him in for the ashes just saying that it is a good call giving him an opportunity in these upcoming 4 day games. If he keeps well and scores 250 runs at 60 odd, and Wade screws up in Bangladesh, then you have a decision to make between Neville and Carey. Read Matt's post above, he's nailed it
Armchair Expert
Guest
That would be déjà vu with a different keeper, I also just found out Wade is colorblind, maybe that explains a few things.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Speaking of AFL Nudge, Wade was also a handy underage player for Tasmania when he played with Jack Riewolt and co.
KBG
Guest
sorry - i was in the realms of the hypothetical. more a case of when wade drops ... just used root as an example. was thinking of the forthcoming series. apols.
Chop
Roar Guru
I thought it was Dave Warner.....
Armchair Expert
Guest
I thought that was Haddin who dropped Joe Root.
Basil
Guest
Matt H, you speak too much sense.
Rellum
Roar Guru
None of that matters, well it shouldn't. He needs to perform in the Shield this season, score runs and make significant contributions when his state is down and under the pump and be the best technical keeper he can possibly be. What you are saying is they should pick him on potential, but that is the problem with most selections in Aus cricket in recent years. He needs to show consistent form at FC level, not just do well in junior cricket and athletic testing metrics.
George
Guest
Nevill has been a far superior Shield batsmen to Wade for some time. And the latter remains an ordinary keeper. But yeah give him even more Tests/series.