Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey has fired another warning shot to India with an unbeaten century for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.
Already in blistering form to start the red-ball summer, Carey (123 not out from 163 deliveries) was again chief agitator on day three as SA (9-352) stormed to a 358-run lead at Allan Border Field.
A declaration appears likely overnight, with paceman Jordan Buckingham (0) unbeaten at the crease alongside Carey.
As at the close of play, Carey is averaging 122 across four knocks this summer in positive signs for an Australian middle order missing Cameron Green for the five-Test series against India that begins next month.
Unfazed by the new ball, Carey notched his second century of the summer by blasting paceman Mark Steketee for three consecutive boundaries in the final hour of play on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old bookended a huge six over deep mid-wicket with a pair of fours past extra cover to race through the nervous nineties and into triple figures.
He capped a brilliant day at the crease by slogging his favourite victim Steketee for six over deep mid-wicket in the final over.
Earlier, Carey brought up his half-century pulling Tom Whitney's short ball to the boundary in a rare tough over for the impressive debutant paceman.
Carey raised his bat from only 67 deliveries, signalling his intentions to pick up where Nathan McSweeney (72) left off before Usman Khawaja caught the South Australian captain in the cordon.
Whitney (3-62) backed up his five-wicket haul from the first innings with key scalps early on day three before a minor heel injury prevented him from bowling as Carey kicked on in the afternoon.
Whitney trapped opener Conor McInerney (20) lbw early on day three, before cleaning up Nathan McAndrew's middle stump with his first ball following lunch after the nightwatchman (46) stubbornly stuck around through the first session.
Whitney's figures of 8-119 across the two innings were the third-best for a Queensland debutant in Sheffield Shield history.
In the spotlight since his omission from the Australia A squad, Test hopeful Matthew Renshaw grabbed a headline moment late on day three - but not with the bat.
The towering Renshaw dived at mid-wicket for a brilliant catch to dismiss Jake Lehmann (35) from Marnus Labuschagne's part-time leg-spin.
Labuschagne joined would-be Test opener Renshaw on the highlight reel with a catch above his head to send Liam Scott (11) packing and help Queensland tear into the bowlers.
