Australia’s recent defeat to India in the ongoing five-match Test series opener has sparked intense reactions, but Alex Carey believes that it was just an overreaction from the fans and cricket experts ahead of the Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
There have been rumors of tension and rift within the Aussie camp, with the underwhelming performances from the aging roster being blamed for the crushing 295-run defeat in the first Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Alex Carey dismisses unrest claims in Australian camp after Pert Test loss
Despite still sitting comfortably on the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings, the Aussies’ recent shaky form has left fans questioning their path, thanks to an unexpected loss to the West Indies earlier this year and an embarrassing defeat to India in the Perth Test.
Adding to the fire, pacer Josh Hazlewood has also indirectly blamed the batters for the Perth drubbing against India. After which, Hazlewood was suddenly dropped from the Test squad for the Day-Night encounter in Adelaide, raising further eyebrows.
However, the Australian selectors cited a side strain as a reason behind Hazlewood being overlooked for the second Test against India, starting on December 6, but many felt it was his statement about the cracks within the dressing room that led to his ouster from the squad all of a sudden.
It’s quite a big reaction externally for one loss: Alex Carey
But Alex Carey insisted that there’s no unrest within the Australian dressing room. Carey has dismissed the uproar surrounding Australia’s recent Test loss to India, emphasizing that the internal team environment remains calm and focused ahead of the crucial Day-Night Test in Adelaide.
Despite the external criticism following their underwhelming performance in the Perth Test, Carey believes that his team remains confident in its established methods, and the hosts are eager to return to winning ways against India and reaffirm their status as a dominant force in Test cricket.
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Alex Carey was quoted as saying by Herald Sun: “It’s quite a big reaction externally for one loss. Internally, we don’t feel that. We didn’t play the way that we wanted to play, but we know over four or five Test matches that if we keep rocking up and playing our style of cricket, then we’ll have success. We’ve had that success to call upon that the method does work. We’re calm internally, and we’re excited to get back out and play a better style of cricket. We’ve got that opportunity on Friday.”
Carey hails Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the Day-Night Test
The Australian star also hailed the Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the Adelaide Test. Carey signed off by saying, “He’s obviously a fantastic bowler and has been for a number of years. Our batters are world-class as well and always find ways to come up with solutions. We’ve had a look at him now, so hopefully we can combat that first and second spell and get him bowling a little bit deeper in the innings with an older ball.”