Test legend Adam Gilchrist has urged patience with under-fire wicketkeeper Alex Carey after his latest blunder at the SCG.
Carey gave Haseeb Hameed a life on nine off Pat Cummins when he dived to his right and grassed an outside edge on the fifth morning. Although Carey later redeemed himself by catching the opener off Scott Boland, it was the second time he dropped Hameed in the Test.
In Adelaide, he let an edge fly past him to the boundary and after a record-breaking start with a flawless performance in Brisbane, Carey’s inconsistencies have started to mount and pile on the pressure.
“There was a nice, healthy edge,” said Adam Gilchrist of the dropped chance on Sunday.
“He moved well again, Carey, it just hit the wrong part of the glove. He’s got himself in a little rut there now in that exact area. That’s two in this game now. The disappointment, it’s a horrible feeling.”
When he snared Haseeb to an easier chance, Shane Warne praised his improved footwork.
Alex Carey reacts during the fourth Ashes Test at the SCG. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“No one likes to drop a catch. It’s the worst feeling in cricket,” Warne said. “That looked like the technique was really good. Better foot movement, technically more precise and it looked so much easier, it didn’t look a struggle.
“That will do his confidence the world of good.”
But Gilchrist was quick to add that the greatest Australian wicketkeepers have found it a tough gig to get settled into.
“All he can do is front up and be ready for the next opportunity,” Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.
“Early in a Test career don’t be too hard, don’t be too judgmental. You can see the warmth and appreciation in the group of how highly they regard him and I don’t we think we need to over-analyse or be overly critical.
“Rod Marsh started his Test career and ‘iron gloves’ was his nickname and he went on to retire with the most number of dismissals in Test cricket Ian Healy did the same, I know I improved more over the course of my career.”
But Mark Waugh had a different take on Carey, calling out his positioning, as well as Pat Cummins for contributing to Carey’s apparent confidence issues.
“I think Carey stands too direct behind the batsmen to the right handers and Starc. It’s almost like he’s trying to look around the corner when he’s trying to pick the line of the ball up.
“We saw in Adelaide when the nick went between Warner and Carey and I thought then he wasn’t wide enough. I’m not a keeper but just visually he’s very direct behind the batsmen and the stumps. I think he needs to come half a step to his right and get a better line of the delivery.”
“The first couple of Test matches he never dropped a ball. Now it’s a bit of a confidence thing. Yesterday Pat Cummins made him go out to bat. It was a silly thing to do. We didn’t have to, we were plenty in front and he got a duck. That’s got to affect your confidence a little bit as well.”
Experts and fans on social media showed little patience with Carey, who won the nod ahead of Josh Inglis to replace Tim Paine as Australia’s keeper this campaign.
Carey’s batting has been nothing to write home about either this series, with 110 runs at 15.71 and 51 of those coming in the first innings in Adelaide.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
He’s a bloody good player but he doesn’t want to drop another 2 or 3 in Hobart otherwise the drums will beat louder, well at least don’t drop them off Cummins bowling.
Paul
Roar Guru
Really? Two mistakes and today’s dropped catch cost nothing. Starc’s no-ball wicket was way more costly, yet no-one’s having a dip at him over that.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
He was very, very good before the finger injuries.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm a Tim Paine knocker but only for his captaincy. His keeping was good but compromised because of finger injuries. His batting was serviceable. His captaincy was a procession of inadequacy.
Akitas
Roar Rookie
Paine was a very average keeper.
Akitas
Roar Rookie
Perhaps it's because he has made more than "one mistake"?
Akitas
Roar Rookie
No team with Fleming in it could be considered "best".
U
Roar Rookie
Paine was his own worst enemy. He’s the reason he’s not playing right now
HR
Roar Rookie
The common consensus is that Paine was going downhill with his keeping, and was only in the team because he was the captain. Remember that he dropped 3 catches in the corresponding test last year.
Laurie
Roar Rookie
Geez Tony , is Josh Inglis your nephew or something ? Tony viewpoint : Carey’s woes .. struggling keeper .. under fire .. latest blunder ( dropping Hameeb on 9 and then catching him out on 9 ten minutes later .. Hameeb has scored of 6 and 9 this test) .. grassed a catch .. inconsistencies .. pile on the pressure .. Warne’s viewpoint : Carey’s technique was really good .. Gilly’s viewpoint : You can see how highly they regard Carey I’m going to go with Gilly on this one. The only perceived pressure that Carey may be under would be the odd article in the West Australian pumping up Inglis
Paul
Roar Guru
Fair call, but there are ways and ways of getting messages across. I look at the idiotic tweets included in this article, including one from Geoff Lemon who should know better and wonder what benefit anyone gets from this sort of reporting. Everyone is making all manner of excuses for Cameron Green and Marcus Harris, but when a bloke makes one mistake, he gets hammered. That's simply poor journalism
Blackswan
Guest
I really hope the Tim Paine knockers appreciate what we had now it's missing. Carey was never my first pick, is decent enough but was never the second best gloveman to Paine. He lacks presence behind the stumps, technically is struggling to make the adjustment, given he's had a long apprenticeship to our quicks. Last time I remember keepers were judged to make runs, didn't fair well in the opening shield matches. He was gifted this debut given the circumstances. Age is number only, surely if Paine still wants it, can prove his worth in new form and domestic matches, the selectors would consider a trusty set of hands. Lets not forget too, he was in the top four most run scorers last summer, averaged in the 40's and won man of match for his saving knock at Adelaide.
Prez
Roar Rookie
SEN with Athers, Simon Katich, Chris Rogers and Damien Fleming as the experts have been excellent. Best commentary team by far.
Prez
Roar Rookie
He hasn't made the spot his yet, so until (or not) he does commentators will keep discussing it. Some commentators will be fair and others will be rubbish . Has Carey been given a fair crack at making the spot his, not yet. He has another 5-6 tests to prove himself otherwise he will be in trouble like Harris.
Steele
Roar Rookie
Every day someone new is under the pump. Yesterday Green, the day before Harris and so on. Carey was picked with no recent form with the bat, I can’t speak for his keeping though.
Linphoma
Guest
Carey will work it out. Just like the hysterics over Green's batting, a few column inches.
U
Roar Rookie
He will continue on to Pakistan I’d say
Tony Harper
Editor
Paul, they're paid fortunes to make these comments. If Carey drops a few catches and the commentators don't talk about it then the producers find new commentators who will.
Nick
Guest
It's like the media wanted Inglis as the wicket-keeper and will hound Varey until they get what they want. As Inglis isn't there we have no idea whether he would have performed as well as people are claiming
Paul
Roar Guru
Seriously? Less than a month ago, Carey was praised to the heavens for his keeping and now he's being criticised? I get that Carey might have some issues to iron out, all players stepping up grades do. What I don't get is why these guys can't simply have a quiet word in his ear, rather than make public comments that spur on people to write pieces like this?