Alex Carey was Thursday confirmed as Australia’s wicketkeeper for the first two Ashes Tests against England after scandal-hit former skipper Tim Paine stepped down.
The 30-year-old has played limited-overs cricket for Australia and stood in as the one-day skipper in the West Indies this year, but is yet to feature in a Test match.
That will change in Brisbane next week after he was added to the 15-man squad.
“Alex has been a regular member of the national side in white ball cricket, particularly in the one-day game,” said chief selector George Bailey.
“He is an excellent cricketer and a fine individual who will bring many great strengths into the team.”
Carey and fellow gloveman Josh Inglis were widely seen as in a showdown for the role, but the writing was on the wall after Inglis returned home to Perth this week.
“I am incredibly humbled by this opportunity. It’s an exciting build-up for what is a huge series ahead,” said Carey.
“This is also for my dad who has been my coach, mentor and mate, my mum, my wife Eloise, kids Louis and Clementine, my brother and sister and all of those who have supported me.
“I will be doing my absolute best to make them and our country proud.”
Carey got the nod after Paine quit as Test captain and then last week stepped away from cricket over a text-message scandal, leaving selectors seeking an alternative ahead of the December 8 first Test.
While Carey was overlooked from Australia’s T20 squad that won the World Cup last month, with Inglis preferred, it meant plenty of domestic red-ball cricket for him in recent weeks.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (capt) Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.
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