Alex Carey’s Emotional Century in Adelaide Test
Alex Carey had a day to remember during the ongoing Adelaide Test. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter had been waiting for a special moment, as it had been 12 Ashes Tests since his last century. On Wednesday, he finally achieved that milestone, scoring his first Ashes hundred in front of a home crowd at the Adelaide Oval. By the end of Day 1, Australia had put up a solid score of 326 for eight after 83 overs.
Carey reached his century off 135 balls and celebrated in a heartfelt way. He took off his helmet and looked up to the sky to honor his late father, Gordon, who passed away on September 25 after battling cancer. This moment held even greater significance for Carey, as he had been mourning his father’s loss.
His wife, Eloise Carey, who has been his partner since 2016, was in the stands and couldn’t hold back her tears when he scored his hundred.
“In today’s innings, it felt great to contribute,” Carey shared during the post-match press conference. “I wish I could have scored more runs and stayed out longer, but looking up to the heavens was a really special moment for me.”
Carey’s father was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in 2021, which kept him from attending his son’s Test debut against England at the Gabba in Brisbane that same year, as he was undergoing chemotherapy.
Carey’s Performance Continue to Shine
In his 13 Ashes Tests so far, Carey has scored a total of 578 runs, with an average of 27.52 and a strike rate of 54.83. His 106 runs off 143 balls in the Adelaide Test featured eight fours and a six before he was dismissed by Will Jacks. He played a key role in a 91-run partnership with Usman Khawaja after Australia was struggling at 94 for four in the 25th over.
Carey scored his first Test century during the 2022 Boxing Day Test against South Africa, and he followed it up with another hundred against Sri Lanka earlier this year. This latest century in Adelaide is sure to boost his confidence as he looks ahead to the future.
