Alex Carey won’t lose sight of his ultimate goal of playing Tests for Australia even if most of his cricket has been in coloured clothing.
Carey has been one of Australia’s most impressive over the opening weeks of the World Cup, both behind the stumps and with the bat.
Realistically, he finds himself in a battle with Matt Wade for a spot in Australia’s Ashes squad, if selectors opt to take a back-up wicketkeeper to Tim Paine.
Wade has his chance to press his claims on the Australia A tour of England that also started on Thursday, playing as a batsman-only for the majority of the games.
Meanwhile, Carey is seen as a future leader of Australian cricket, elevated to the vice-captaincy of the one-day squad last year following the ball-tampering saga.
But the 27-year-old’s one-day prowess has come at a cost, playing just two Sheffield Shield rounds last summer.
“My experience at the international level has been with the white ball and I guess limited opportunity back in Australia in Shield cricket,” Carey said.
“But I wouldn’t change anything.
“At the moment I’m really loving playing white-ball cricket for Australia, working with (assistant) Brad Haddin, obviously Tim Paine’s keeping really well at the moment as well.”
Carey’s opportunity is likely to come at some point though, given Paine is aged 34.
“Moving forward I’ll continue to improve in all three formats in my game hopefully, and hopefully one day play Test cricket,” Carey said.
“I think every cricketer I’ve spoken to dreams to play Test cricket. I’m no different. It’s the dream, the goal.”
Carey said he hadn’t considered whether runs in the World Cup could push his Ashes chances.
But if nothing else, his performances at No.7 have shown he is adaptable given he is a top-order batsman in domestic cricket.
The South Australian has come to the wicket and scored a quickfire half-century against India and also a measured 45 to change the momentum of the game against the West Indies.
“It’s just (about) assessing the situation (batting lower), he said.
“The scoreboard dictates a lot of my role when I go back down the order, who I’m batting with. It’s sort of laid out in front.”
Peter Warrington
Guest
definitely can see him being Gilchristian if he can improve his keeping 20% counterattack is something we lack in a Patterson Paine Cummins 6-7-8
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Yeah, its not that mahy games ago everyone was asking why he was sin the side if he couldn't take basic chances. he might get into tests but not yet - I just wish Whiteman hadn't got injured, he was the best (of a mediocre bunch) before then.
MarkD
Guest
If Carey is the best keeper in Australia than yes . For once I'd like the best keeper to get first shot ,not the best batsman who can keep . I can't help but feel we missed a trick by not giving Hartley a shot at the test keeper position when imo he was the best keeper in Australia by along shot for quite some time Any ideas on who the best keeper in Australia is? A few years back there was some really good young keepers coming through the state systems. Peirson , Whiteman, Harper, Inglis and Gotch. I know some had some injuries but are any of them rated higher than Carey as keepers alone ?
Neel
Roar Guru
In the future, yes. For the Ashes, no.
Gone for 4
Guest
There's no doubt he'll play Test cricket one day but Paine isn't going anywhere at the moment and he can't be in the team as a batter only. Needs to work on his keeping a bit more to be considered.
Paul
Roar Guru
"Carey has been one of Australia’s most impressive over the opening weeks of the World Cup, both behind the stumps and with the bat." Down the track he has to be in the mix, but to suggest he's been impressive behind the stumps is a stretch. He's done some good things for sure, but he's also missed some crucial catches and stumpings, which haven't cost in this format, but probably would in a Test match.