Alex Carey, Australia’s white-ball wicketkeeper-batsman, is set for his first IPL stint, with the Delhi Capitals, and he is enthused by the prospect of playing alongside the “explosive and dynamic” Rishabh Pant. Carey also said he was “keen to speak to” an experienced top-order batsman like Shikhar Dhawan.
“I suppose, you know, chatting to Rishabh and the way he plays his cricket. Obviously, wicketkeeper-batsman and he’s so explosive and dynamic, as a batsman,” Carey said of his fellow wicketkeeper-batsman at the Capitals during a virtual press conference in Australia.
“It will be great to talk to him, he’s quite unconventional in some of his cricket shots, it’s amazing to see him play, so probably have a good chat about mindset with him.”
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A prolific run-scorer in the Big Bash League for the Adelaide Strikers, Carey was bought for INR 2.4 crore (US$ 320,000 approx.) in the last auction and views the IPL as an opportunity to garner experience in different conditions, rub shoulders with some of the more experienced players, and use the tournament as a springboard for the two T20 World Cups in India and Australia over the next two years.
“Yeah, it’s really exciting. It will be my first opportunity playing the IPL, so firstly it’s just exciting to be a part of that competition, which we all watch and admire around the world in the T20 format,” Carey said.
“And then leading into the T20 World Cups in the next couple of years… it’s a great opportunity to play against the best in the world, in different conditions as well. All the net sessions we’re going to have, we’re going to make sure we’re playing against the great spinners at Delhi Capitals, and speaking to a lot of those players – Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane and all those senior guys – picking their brains really. Add Ricky Ponting (head coach) in as well, it’s a pretty exciting list of players and staff members we’ve got in Delhi.
“Shikhar Dhawan is so experienced in the top order, and has performed on massive occasions as well. Again, another left-hand batter. So [I am] keen to speak to him.”
Carey has impressed with his ability to tackle spin in a short career so far, and he is relishing the prospect of coming up against R Ashwin in practice.
“Ashwin is an amazing spinner and I want to face him once in the nets as well, just to put yourself up against some of those guys.”