NEW DELHI: After securing a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka, Australia’s wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey reflected on the challenges and excitement of standing behind the stumps to the spinners in the longest format of the game.
Australia’s victory in the second Test at Galle was powered by outstanding performances from spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon, as well as centuries from Steve Smith and Carey.
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The visitors triumphed by nine wickets, sealing their first Test series win in Sri Lanka in 14 years and achieving a clean sweep in Asia for the first time since 2006.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Carey praised Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne for his outstanding career and acknowledged the team’s efforts.
"Josh went down with a bit of a back spasm, so I was elevated up the order. The platform was set up by the boys, and Smudge was outstanding once again, showing his class. The wicket allowed for some expansive shots, and it was a good surface when the ball landed in the right areas. Wicket-keeping was fun, and Kusal did a great job as well. We've got some quality spinners in our lineup, and it's always good standing behind the stumps," Carey said.
Carey delivered a remarkable performance in the second Test, scoring 156 runs off 188 balls, including 15 boundaries and two sixes. With this innings, he surpassed Adam Gilchrist’s record to become the first Australian wicketkeeper-batter to score 150 or more in Asian conditions.
Previously, Gilchrist held the record for the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia, having struck 144 in both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Carey now joins Gilchrist as only the second Australian wicketkeeper-batter to register a century in Asia.
