‘Good рroblem to һаve’: Alex Cаrey’s ODI һeroісs сreаtes fresһ seleсtіon dіlemmа

Alex Carey will walk through the Lord’s Pavilion’s Long Room for the first time since last year’s infamous Ashes Test when Australia faces England for Thursday’s fourth ODI.

The Australian wicketkeeper’s stumping of Jonny Bairstow prompted ugly scenes in the Long Room last year, with the MCC banning three members following the incident.

England supporters targeted Carey for the remainder of the tour; his form with bat and gloves dwindled as the series progressed. A few months later, he was dropped from the national one-day team during the World Cup in India, making way for West Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.

However, Carey returns to Lord’s this week in blistering form, top-scoring for the tourists during the previous two ODIs at Headingley and the Riverside Ground. The left-hander, booed by the Leeds crowd when he walked out to bat last week, rescued Australia with a gritty 74 before smacking an unbeaten 77 in Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.

His previous knock at international level was his unbeaten 98 during March’s second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, helping Australia chase an awkward 279-run target for an unlikely victory.

Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Carey is seemingly at the peak of his powers after a six-month break from competitive cricket, creating a massive headache for national selectors ahead of the home summer.

Inglis, the incumbent white-ball wicketkeeper, sustained a quad injury during the T20 leg of the tour, with reserve gloveman Carey earning a recall for the ODIs. The South Australian was supposed to be keeping Inglis’ seat warm until he recovers, but now there’s uncertainty surrounding who the first-choice ODI gloveman should be ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Following the white-ball tour of England, Australia only has three ODIs scheduled before the ICC event, leaving Inglis few opportunities to push his case for selection.

Highest ODI batting average among Australian wicketkeepers

35.68 — Adam Gilchrist

35.46 — Alex Carey

31.19 — Brad Haddin

28.54 — Tim Paine

28.25 — Josh Inglis

• Minimum 10 innings