Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey delivered a poignant and powerful performance at the Adelaide Oval, securing his first-ever Ashes Test century in an emotional tribute to his late father.
A Tribute Written in the Sky
The Adelaide Oval erupted as hometown hero Alex Carey swiped Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs, bringing up a hard-fought and deeply personal hundred. It was his third century in Test cricket, but by far the most significant. The moment was charged with emotion as Carey, having raised his bat to the roaring crowd, paused to look solemnly up at the sky.
This heartfelt gesture was for his father, Gordon Carey, who heartbreakingly passed away in September following a battle with cancer. The Channel 7 broadcast captured the raw feeling of the occasion, panning to Carey's wife, Eloise, in the crowd as she wiped tears from her eyes, overwhelmed with pride at her husband's incredible achievement under such circumstances.
Justifying His Push Up the Order
Carey's knock of 106, featuring eight fours and one six, was a masterclass in composure. It took his run tally for the calendar year to 671, placing him ahead of teammates Steve Smith (618) and Travis Head (589) as Australia's leading Test run-scorer in 2024. This latest innings powerfully justified the 34-year-old's stated desire to bat as high up the order as possible.
Promoted from his usual No.7 slot to No.6 for the second Ashes Test, the South Australian had already made a crucial 63 in Brisbane. His highest Test score of 156 came at No.5 against Sri Lanka in Galle last February. 'I'd always like to bat as high up the order as I can,' Carey said before the Adelaide Test. 'I do it for the Sheffield Shield, I bat No.5 and at times No.4. I love batting.'
He also acknowledged the fierce competition for places, adding: 'I also understand that in Australia there are lots of amazing batters, and if it's down at No.7 that's absolutely fine too. We're a little bit spoilt for choice ... but, yeah, I love batting as high as possible.'
Solidifying His Place Among the Greats
This innings further cemented Carey's status as a world-class wicketkeeper-batter. His dismissal for 106 increased his career Test batting average to 36.16 from 46 matches. Among Australian Test wicketkeepers, only the legendary Adam Gilchrist, with an average of 47.60, stands above him.
While the all-time Australian record for most Test runs in a calendar year is held by Michael Clarke (1595 in 2012), and the overall record by Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf (1788 in 2006), Carey's consistent contributions with the bat have become a cornerstone of Australia's middle-order strength.
Australia's Top Test Run-Scorers This Calendar Year:
- Alex Carey: 671 runs at 51.61
- Steve Smith: 618 at 58.43
- Travis Head: 589 at 34.64
- Usman Khawaja: 545 at 38.92
- Beau Webster: 381 at 34.63
