Alex Carey Returns to Lord's After Controversial Ashes Incident

Alex Carey will walk through the Long Room at Lord’s for the first time since last year’s contentious Ashes Test  when Australia faces England in Thursday’s fourth ODI. The Australian wicketkeeper was at the center of controversy after his stumping of Jonny Bairstow, which led to heated scenes in the Long Room, resulting in the MCC banning three members.

Following the incident, Carey faced relentless criticism from England fans for the rest of the tour, and his performance with both the bat and gloves declined. He was later dropped from Australia's one-day team during the World Cup in India, making way for Josh Inglis. 

However, Carey heads back to Lord's this week in stellar form. He was Australia’s top scorer in the previous two ODIs, with a fighting 74 at Headingley and an unbeaten 77 at Chester-le-Street. His return to form follows an impressive 98 not out in March against New Zealand, where he helped Australia chase down a tricky target of 279. 

Carey's resurgence, after a six-month break from competitive cricket, has posed a selection dilemma for the national team ahead of the home summer. Inglis, Australia’s regular white-ball wicketkeeper, suffered a quad injury during the T20 series, giving Carey an unexpected chance in the ODIs. Originally expected to fill in for Inglis temporarily, Carey's performances have sparked uncertainty over who will be Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

With only three ODIs scheduled before the ICC event, Inglis will have limited opportunities to stake his claim for the spot. Carey’s current ODI batting average of 35.46 is second only to Adam Gilchrist among Australian wicketkeepers, surpassing the likes of Brad Haddin, Tim Paine, and Inglis.

Australian coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged the selection dilemma, calling it a "good problem" to have. He praised Carey for stepping up in Inglis’s absence, noting that his recent performances have been impressive. McDonald even hinted at the possibility of both Carey and Inglis playing in the same ODI side, though this remains unlikely when Australia is at full strength.

Reflecting on Carey’s form, McDonald remarked, "The way Alex is batting, especially navigating spin through the middle overs, has been very impressive. He's a seasoned international player, so his success doesn't come as a surprise."

The fourth ODI between England and Australia is scheduled to begin at 9:30 PM AEST on Friday at Lord's.