Alex Carey will reach a significant milestone on Saturday when he plays his 50th Test for Australia, with the wicketkeeper hoping the occasion coincides with a series-levelling victory over Bangladesh in Mackay.
Carey will become only the seventh Australian wicketkeeper to reach 50 Tests, joining an exclusive list that includes Adam Gilchrist and Wally Grout. Grout, who was born in Mackay, also played his 50th Test for Australia and remains a notable figure in the city’s cricket history.
For Carey, however, the milestone comes with Australia needing to respond after their nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the opening Test in Darwin.
“It’s great to play 50 Tests. I want to play a lot more,” Carey said ahead of the second Test. “If I look back from the start to now, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about my game and myself as a person.”
The 34-year-old has also developed into one of Australia’s most effective run-scoring wicketkeepers. Since the beginning of 2024, he has scored at a Test strike rate of 72.76, with eight of his nine scores of 50 or more coming at a strike rate above 70.
His unbeaten 98 against New Zealand in Christchurch in March 2024 was one of the innings that helped reshape his approach. Carey struck 123 balls and shared a 140-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh after Australia had fallen to 34 for four.
His contribution in Darwin was markedly different. Carey scored 19 and 30, facing 43 and 72 balls respectively. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was particularly effective against him, allowing only six scoring shots from 48 deliveries before dismissing him with an edge during the fourth innings.
Carey acknowledged Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling but also felt the conditions restricted his usual scoring options.
“It was quite hard to pierce that field with the square,” he said. “But they played a really disciplined game of cricket, and we’ll learn a lot from that.”
Now, as he prepares for his 50th Test, Carey wants the milestone to be accompanied by a stronger Australian performance.
“We’re a proud group of cricketers, and obviously last week didn’t go to plan,” he said. “When this team’s been challenged, we always find a way to bounce back in a big way. I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
