Last Updated on 30 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
As Steve Smith chipped a delivery back to the impressive Mehidy Hasan Miraz, an outsmarted and outplayed Australia were staring down the barrel of a hefty defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin.
The man for a tricky situation – Alex Carey – combined with the under pressure Cameron Green to steer the hosts to stumps with no further damage. The pair added 39 runs in 15.4 overs; the kind of composure required with Australia tottering on the edge of a cliff.
However, Australia are still very much in danger of falling off it. At 161/4, they still trail a disciplined and well-drilled Bangladesh side by 67 runs. The pitch remains good for batting, but Australia’s work with the willow has left plenty to be desired in this Test.
Darwin miracle? Australia in need of another Alex Carey special
If there is one player (apart from Steve Smith) you’d like to have at the crease in this scenario, it’s Alex Carey. Australia’s keeper-batter has a reputation for scoring important runs, most notably his unbeaten 98 in Wellington just over two years ago.
In that innings, Australia were all at sea at 80/5 chasing 279 for victory. Carey combined with Mitch Marsh (80) and Pat Cummins (32*) to seal a superb victory when defeat looked inevitable.
Carey’s calmness under pressure that day was the hallmark of a quality innings. He has shown similar traits around the world, scoring important runs in Ashes Tests, the West Indies and World Test Championship Finals.
But this situation against Bangladesh is nothing like Australia have faced in recent times. As brilliant as Bangladesh have been, defeat would be quite the shock for the number one ranked side, who have a massive 12 months ahead with tours of South Africa, India and England, plus a home series against an impressive New Zealand.
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Australia have been well and truly second-best across three days. As excellent as Bangladesh have been, the hosts’ batting has been woeful, while the bowling and fielding left plenty to be desired as well. But you only have to look back at Carey’s last red-ball match before this Test to see why the Australians still have hope of a remarkable escape as long as he’s at the crease.
On a tough pitch in the Sheffield Shield Final, South Australia were three down for 35 and still trailing Victoria by 28 runs in the second innings. Fast forward another 21.5 overs, and the defending champions were 7/122 and looked set for defeat against a strong attack featuring Scott Boland, Fergus O’Neill and Will Sutherland.
However, Carey was at his brilliant best, combining with Nathan McAndrew (60) for a 105-run stand in 34.1 overs that put his team back in the contest. The keeper-batter hit a superb 103 and batted right through to the final wicket to set Victoria a target of 196. South Australia won the match by 56 runs to seal their second-straight title.
Of course, the Test match against Bangladesh will require something even more remarkable from Carey and his teammates. The deficit is larger and it remains to be seen how the bowling attack fares in the fourth innings after toiling for 138 overs.
There is so much work left to do, but Carey’s calmness gives Australia hope. He can be the perfect foil for Cameron Green (43*) who has the chance to kickstart his flailing Test career with runs when the team needs them most.
As Josh Hazlewood said, this pair has the heavy lifting of wiping off the remaining 67 runs and build from there. It is easier said than done, but with Carey’s CV, who can say it can’t be?
A fascinating day or so of Test cricket could await us, but all depends on the first session on Sunday. If Australia get into a position where they can start thinking of building a lead, you can almost guarantee that Carey will be at the forefront of it all.
