Sun Sep 22 03:51:39 UTC 2024: ## Carey’s Heroics Silence Boos, Put Pressure on Inglis
Leeds, England – Alex Carey silenced his critics with a fighting half-century, rescuing Australia from a perilous position and putting pressure on incumbent wicketkeeper Josh Inglis in the process. Carey, who was booed by England fans at Headingley on Saturday for his part in the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s last year, responded with a crucial 74 runs, guiding Australia to a 271-run target in the second ODI.
The Australians, reeling at 9-221 in the 37th over, looked set for a comfortable defeat before Carey and tailender Josh Hazlewood put on a crucial 49-run partnership for the tenth wicket. Carey, batting in his first professional match since March, took charge, farming the strike and hitting consecutive boundaries against Adil Rashid and Will Jacks to reach his ninth ODI half-century. He also took a crucial one-handed catch to remove Liam Livingstone.
Carey’s performance has thrown the wicketkeeping position wide open ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Inglis, who replaced Carey in the World Cup last year, has been in good form in T20 cricket but has not had the same impact in ODIs. “He’s a great young player, he showed that in the T20 series earlier this tour,” Carey said of Inglis. “I’ve sat on the bench for the last little period for the Australian team in the ODIs, and it’s nice to get back out there. An opportunity popped up, who knows how long it will last, but I’ve had great fun.”
Australia now hold a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, with the third ODI scheduled for Tuesday at Chester-le-Street’s Riverside Ground.
First Piper 