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.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Fair point, Jeff, you could be right about ODIs.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
No he wasn’t doing it much before this series. It’s a completely brainless shot if you decide to play it before judging the length of the ball.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Hi CAM..a bit late reading your comments but I for one agree with them May have also been a game to have played Maxwell to boost the batting because ,as I've said earlier, Head and Warner were bound to be unreliable. Fancy potting Carey..what about the tail? And why Starc instead of Maxwell's all round game in these circumstances But selectors..
Hutton's ghost
Roar Rookie
Any relation to Gil Langley by the way?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Not just against spin, Dave. Where the opportunities presented themselves to go right against England, he didn't go. Those same opportunities didn't present themselves in Pakistan or SL, so it remains an area of concern yet to be shown as having been rectified. I wonder whether keeping with a permanent slips cordon in Test vs mostly no slips in ODIs, is muddling his thoughts re his role/obligations re being responsible for taking edges? Would he benefit from playing less ODIs so he gets the mindset locked in for Tests/FC?
Clear as mud
Guest
Easterm Promises/A History of Violence and/or viggo = vigour
Clear as mud
Guest
except they are a big part of why he is averaging 32. strength and weakness. have to take the good with the ban IMHO.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Carey may not have set the world on fire but his batting average is already on par after ten tests with our second highest keeper batsman’s (Haddin) over his whole career. The keeping against spin is a bit of a problem- can he work on it to improve in time for India next year? His premeditated sweeps are the big batting issue he needs to get over.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Good ol' Don. I don't always agree with him but he is strong in his arguments and l reckon he brings good / unusual flavour. ------ But l don't get the Viggo Mortensen reference.
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
there is a point at which some knowledge of the game is required. 3 dismissals in the ashes were opening in the second innings when they needed 20 to win, and twice going the slog pre-declaration. without those he is averaging 40.
Clear as mud
Guest
you are ontne right website for it i have a similar approach re our west aussie friend -when he is out of contest troppo re the tigers i meet him with viggo mortensen and matching psychosis. when he makes solid and reliable contributions on cricket, as per Agar and GReen on the other post, I am like a kitten in my agreement. i don't know if it's working, it's working for me!
rainstorms
Guest
Mariah does have a polarising effect on people
Hutton's ghost
Roar Rookie
The modern test keeper is expected to consistently make runs - for better or worse, the days of players being picked for their keeping alone has well and truly passed.
Sedz
Guest
Guys forget Gilly.. You will never get like him. Better keeper, better batsman and better statesmen. Equally other countries had good/less good keepers after him. I would say Moin Khan, Mark Boucher, Sangakara, AB D, MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant. But Kumar Sangakara and ABD scored most of their runs as main stay batsman than as keeper batsman. MSD was never a scorer in Test matches. Moin Khan was an excellent keeper and batsman but not in test arena. Mark Boucher was an excellent keeper in subcontinent and other conditions. I'd rate him the best behind Gilly but his sudden exit created a vaccum in SA cricket. Right now I think Rishabh Pant is the best in all format cricket and his keeping has improved a lot. But we will see.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
I firmly believe that Gilly changed the way we look at keeping. He was a freak. But generally in the past we looked at keeping as a specialist task, with runs considered to be handy. Sure Marsh was excellent with the bat, as of course was Healey. But with Gilly runs became expected. That tendency has continued to this day. So if you are going to judge Carey, I would prefer to focus on his keeping first, then his runscoring. Anyone beg to differ?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Play early and straight or late and square stuff. All great player’s of spin do it. —- I was just being contrarian with the Tiges stuff :silly: :laughing: :laughing:
Clear as mud
Guest
You had the “get forward etc etc “. It was superb
Redcap
Roar Guru
I didn't mean to do that - was only changing the profile pic. Very odd.
JamesH
Roar Guru
One of Carey's biggest challenges is that Inglis is (going by the popular view) a better pure keeper. He's also scoring runs domestically, will settle into the T20I keeping role full-time this summer and is nearly 4 years younger. Every time Carey makes an error there will be people calling for Inglis to get a crack. He'd want to put in a solid performance in the two tests vs WI.
U
Roar Rookie
He’s far from the crossroads.