Whatever magic water was in Australia’s lodge pool in Karachi, it has labored wonders for Alex Carey.
Carey scored his first Test century with a chanceless knock in opposition to South Africa on the MCG on Wednesday, becoming a member of the late Rod Marsh as the one different wicketkeeper to attain a red-ball ton on the well-known Melbourne venue.
Carey began day three unbeaten on 9 however the left-hander rapidly went about extending Australia’s already-imposing lead within the Boxing Day Test.
The 31-year-old’s maiden century, coming in his 14th Test, got here from 133 balls and included 13 boundaries.
Carey flew previous his previous-best Test rating of 93 which got here in opposition to Pakistan in March.
Before that match in Karachi, Carey unintentionally walked right into a lodge pool totally clothed. He has averaged greater than 80 since that weird accident – essentially the most by any Australian participant throughout that interval.
Carey had waited years for a Test debut however it got here out of the blue final November when Tim Paine unexpectedly stepped down from the captaincy when particulars of a historic sexting alternate got here to gentle.
The South Australian has had an unconventional journey to turn out to be Australia’s first-choice keeper, captaining Greater Western Sydney earlier than their entry into the AFL in 2012.
After not being given a spot on the Giants’ inaugural AFL record, Carey returned to Adelaide and mixed soccer within the SANFL with membership cricket duties for a brief interval.
But Carey’s kind with Glenelg in grade cricket was ok to earn a call-up to the Redbacks’ Sheffield Shield and one-day squads in 2012-13.
Carey’s century follows on from David Warner’s heroic 200 because the veteran opener silenced critics together with his first ton in virtually three years.
