Alex Carey will replace Tim Paine as Australian wicketkeeper for the first two games of the Ashes series, after the South Australian was added to Australia’s 15-man squad.
The Redbacks’ Carey was in competition with Western Australian Josh Inglis to replace the former Australian skipper, but Cricket Australia today announced Carey’s inclusion in the squad, a week out from the first Test at the Gabba.
Carey capped his bid for a spot in the team with a century for South Australia against Queensland in the domestic One-Day Cup competition.
“Alex has been a regular member of the national side in white-ball cricket, particularly in the one-day game,” the chair of the national selection panel, George Bailey, said in a statement.
“He is an excellent cricketer and a fine individual who will bring many great strengths into the team.”
Carey, 30, made his one-day international debut for Australia against England in Brisbane in January 2018, and began his T20 international career against New Zealand in Sydney a month later.
He averages 34.73 in Sheffield Shield cricket for the Redbacks, with five centuries and 13 50s.
More to come.
