Alex Carey

A classy left-handed batter and an agile gloveman, Alex Carey is a professional Australian cricketer who started playing cricket at an early age but decided to pursue a career in Australian Rules Football. However, the southpaw was lured back to cricket in 2012 by the South Australian Redbacks, and there has been no looking back ever since.

Australia was always looking for a wicketkeeper-batter after the retirements of Adam Gilchrist and Brad Haddin, and the indifferent form of Matthew Wade kept that spot always open. On the back of strong performances in the Big Bash League, Carey made his international debut against England in January 2018. 

Alex Carey was picked by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2020 auction on the back of his tremendous range of shots and wicket-keeping skills. He had a terrific 2019 World Cup in England earlier, and he was rated highly by cricket pundits for his display of scoring quickly with some classy shots. He also played well against the English side in the semi-final when all looked gloomy for Australia against the Jofra Archer-led strong bowling lineup.

Showing faith in the Aussie, Delhi Capitals paid Rs 2.40 crore ahead of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he featured in just three games for DC, scoring just 32 runs before being released from the squad. 

Despite being snubbed by the Capitals, Carey had more than a decent show in the BBL 2020/21. Playing for the Adelaide Strikers, Carey amassed 425 runs in 13 innings, which included a blistering century against the Brisbane Heat. 

A proven match-winner with the bat, Carey is one of the most well-rounded players in Australia, and his abilities in the shortest format of the game are certainly a boon for the Aussies going into the T20 World Cup in October.

In July 2021, Alex Carey stepped into the leadership role as Australia's ODI captain against the West Indies in Barbados, filling in for the injured Aaron Finch. His captaincy debut was marked by a composed innings of 67 runs off 87 balls, anchoring Australia's total to 252 for 9. This innings not only showcased Carey's batting resilience but also saw him surpass 1,000 ODI runs and achieve his 50th ODI catch.

In December 2021, Alex Carey made his Test debut for Australia in the opening match of the 2021–22 Ashes series against England at the Gabba. Stepping into the role of wicketkeeper, Carey delivered a flawless performance, securing eight catches—five in the first innings and three in the second. This remarkable feat equaled the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper on Test debut, matching the achievements of Brian Taber (1966) and Chris Read (1999). 

In March 2022, during Australia's historic tour of Pakistan, Carey showcased his growing prowess in the Test arena. Over the three-Test series, Carey amassed 179 runs at an impressive average of 59.66, marking him as Australia's second-highest run-scorer for the series. A standout moment came in the second Test at Karachi. In Australia's first innings, Carey played a resilient knock of 93 runs off 159 balls.

In the storied amphitheater of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, amidst the fervor of the Boxing Day Test in December 2022, Carey inscribed his name into the annals of Australian cricketing lore. He notched his maiden Test century– a fluent 111 runs that resonated with both grace and authority. This innings elevated him to a distinguished echelon, making him only the second Australian wicketkeeper to achieve a Test century at the MCG since the legendary Rod Marsh's unbeaten 110 during the Centenary Test of 1977. Carey's century was the first by an Australian wicketkeeper in nearly a decade, following Brad Haddin's 118 in Adelaide during the 2013-14 Ashes series. 

In the storied 2023 Ashes series in England, Alex Carey’s performances behind the stumps and with the bat proved pivotal, drawing both acclaim and controversy. His most talked-about moment came during the second Test at Lord’s, where his quick-thinking stumping of Jonny Bairstow sparked debates on the spirit of the game. Seizing on Bairstow’s premature movement out of the crease, Carey executed a precise underarm throw to catch the batter off guard—a move that, while well within the laws, ignited a firestorm of discussion. 

During Australia's Test series against the West Indies in 2024, Carey delivered a standout performance that underscored his resilience and batting prowess. In the second Test at Brisbane's Gabba, the keeper-batter entered the fray with Australia reeling at 54/5, following a devastating spell by West Indies pacer Kemar Roach. Demonstrating remarkable composure, Carey crafted an aggressive 65 off 49 balls, propelling Australia's total to 289/9 declared.

In the Test series against Sri Lanka, Alex Carey played a pivotal role in Australia's commanding 2-0 series victory. In the first Test at Galle, he contributed an unbeaten 46*, providing stability in challenging subcontinental conditions. However, it was in the second Test that Carey delivered a career-defining performance, scoring a magnificent 156– one of the highest scores by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia, surpassing Adam Gilchrist’s 144. His unbroken 239-run partnership with Steve Smith (131) was instrumental in securing a significant first-innings lead. Carey’s match-winning knock earned him the Player of the Match award, while Smith was named Player of the Series. Australia wrapped up the series with a nine-wicket win in the second Test, marking their first Test series triumph in Sri Lanka since 2011. 

In Australia’s ODI clash against England in Lahore on February 22, 2025, Alex Carey played a crucial knock, scoring 69 runs off 82 balls, anchoring the innings with precision. Facing a disciplined English bowling attack, he struck five boundaries, rotating the strike effectively to keep the scoreboard moving. His innings was instrumental in stabilizing Australia’s middle order, ensuring a competitive total.

In June 2024, Carey joined the Los Angeles Knight Riders for the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, which commenced immediately after the ICC T20 World Cup.

Continuing his tenure with the Adelaide Strikers, Carey reaffirmed his commitment by signing a four-year contract extension in August 2024. Throughout the 2024–25 BBL season, he remained a pivotal figure for the Strikers. Over his BBL career, Carey has played 59 matches, scoring 1,890 runs at an average of 33.75, with a strike rate of 130.08. His contributions include two centuries and eleven half-centuries, with a highest score of 101.

In January 2025, Alex Carey entered the PSL 10 draft, marking his inaugural participation in Pakistan's premier T20 league. Subsequently, he was selected as a partial replacement for Rassie van der Dussen by Islamabad United during the replacement draft.

(As of April 2025)