But right now, Carey is possibly the most relaxed man in Australia. He enters the Test series against India as their fittest player and is emerging as a potential match-winner with bat and gloves, even with Inglis in the team for his batting.
Carey, 33, is entering his fourth summer at home as a test player and says he has never felt fresher. No Australian team player had a longer break without cricket during the winter.
The benefits are showing. He posted ODI scores of 74 and 77, not his first in England on his return to the team in September. He has shot 90, 111 and 123 not out in the first two Shield matches and 44 and 42 as captain in a low-scoring win in the third. He completed his preparation with 75 off 63 in his final One-Day Cup match for South Australia.
The time out gave him room to play with his hitting. He attributes his shape, in part, to feeling fresh. But also to a small adjustment to his settings that he made without anyone else’s involvement.
“When you play and play and play, you don’t really get a chance to work on a lot of things,” Carey told reporters on Monday ahead of the first Test in Perth. “Not having any games ahead of me for a while, I just fiddled with my hands a little bit and found something that felt good and went with it.
“It’s just slight, but right now I feel like I’m in a good position and reacting to the ball pretty well. But I think just a little bit of free time and a little bit of scouting gives you those opportunities.”
The slight change? Simply by raising your bat a little higher in your stance. Carey had noticed in his setup that his hands and bat were a little low, with the tip of the blade below horizontal and pointing toward the ravine when the player released.
It made him feel rushed at times, as well as affecting his batting record, and his form had declined over a 14-month period between his only Test century in December 2022 and his 98 not out in Christchurch. During that period, he averaged just 23.76 in 17 Tests and lost his ODI spot to Inglis after the first game of the 2023 World Cup.
You now have your hands higher, with the tip of the blade pointing over the head of the first slide. The results have been phenomenal. He looked like one of the best players in Australian domestic cricket this summer, hitting the ball with power and appearing to get a lot of time in the crease.
The technical change has also helped his decision making. There were times in that 14-month hiatus when he played well but found ways to get out through poor, premeditated decision-making. Now he feels the need to premeditate less strongly.
“I’m just trying to keep a really level and consistent hitting process,” Carey said. “I think sometimes I potentially go out on a limb, which can happen, and try to do too many things at once. I’m just trying to stay pretty clear now and react to the ball and back myself to make the goal.” correct decision.”
The addition of Inglis to the Test team, coming off two Shield centuries and excellent white-ball form, also does not worry Carey. Inglis has been chosen as a substitute batsman, providing cover for the top six in place of Carey. The pair have played ODIs together and did so as recently as September at Lord’s.
He acknowledged that they could play together in the same Test XI at some point, which, as happened in the ODI team, could pave the way for Inglis to take his place on the track. But Carey is pragmatic about the inferred pressure Inglis puts on his role as number one goalkeeper.
“I understand it’s a unique position,” Carey said. “There is a goalkeeper on a team, and there is a lot of quality around the country that is trying to get that spot and I was one of those players once. You concentrate on your game. You control what you can control.
“For me, it’s doing my job for this team, I hope to help us win cricket matches and play in this Test team for as long as possible.”
“It’s the best shape he’s ever been in,” Head said. “So for him, it’s about not overdoing it and not worrying too much. I know he’s not. I think he’s in a great space. He’s been for a while and now it’s starting to click for him. And once he did “You capture that form, you want to try to continue again, you are never guaranteed that will happen, but I think he will play a very important role in his position and in this team.”
Alex Malcolm is associate editor of ESPNcricinfo
