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Opinion
Australia was bossing the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle earlier this week.
On a flat pitch, the tourists were 5-329 in their first innings, with Steve Smith having reached his hundred and looking good for plenty more.
At the other end, however, wicketkeeper Alex Carey, having made 28 in a burgeoning partnership of 77 for the sixth wicket, suddenly played an ill-advised reverse slog and was caught in the outfield.
It was a mistake that changed the whole complexion of the Test.
Australia’s tail capitulated as they were shot out for 364, nowhere near enough on a pitch that would deteriorate as the match went on. Smith was stranded on 145 not out and the chance to wrap up a rare overseas series win went begging.
Since his debut against England at the beginning of last year’s home Ashes series, Carey has managed just over 450 runs from number seven at an acceptable average of 32, with three fifties in ten tests. But disturbingly he has also shown a tendency to get himself out when well set, often in tricky situations.
He hasn’t yet played the big innings that would cement his place in the side.
And his keeping has been inconsistent – at Galle he missed two reasonably straightforward stumpings, and another more difficult chance, all of which could have halted Sri Lanka’s progress to their eventual match-winning total of 554.
So how long should the selectors persist with a player who has hardly set the world on fire with the gloves and has shown questionable shot selection, particularly at crucial moments?
When we think of Australian keepers, we tend to focus on the greats, a proud line extending from Jack Blackham in 1877 through Bert Oldfield, Don Tallon, Wally Grout, Rod Marsh, Ian Healy to Adam Gilchrist. More recently Brad Haddin and Tim Paine served their country well (the latter on the field at least).
Tim Paine (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
But it is easy to forget that there are many over the years who have fallen by the wayside, through form, fitness, temperament or merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Keepers like Len Maddocks, Brian Taber, John Maclean, Greg Dyer, Matthew Wade and Peter Nevill lacked either the technique behind the stumps, the run-scoring ability or both to hang on to the job for any real length of time.
Others, like the highly capable Steve Rixon, had their way barred by the longstanding incumbent and only managed a few sporadic appearances.
Disruption often takes hold when a longstanding Aussie keeper retires – the seamless transition from Healy to Gilchrist to Haddin is very much the exception that proves the rule.
When Rod March finally hung up the gloves in 1984, Australian selectors went through five replacement keepers until they settled on Ian Healy as a long-term option.
Similarly, the retirement of Brad Haddin brought a period of uncertainty when Wade and Nevill failed to sufficiently impress before Paine’s late ascension brought some stability.
History demonstrates that there are no guarantees for the incumbent Australian Test keeper. The role requires a certain bloodymindedness, innate competitiveness and street smarts in order to succeed long term.
The jury is out on Alex Carey.
He’s hardly set the world on fire, and with players like WA’s Josh Inglis and Queensland’s Jimmy Peirson lurking in the wings and a highly questionable performance in Galle, his days may be numbered.
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