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Carey lauds all-round effort as Aussies retain Frank Worrell Trophy
Andrew Slevison • July 7th, 2025 9:34 am
Despite Australia’s bowlers doing the business on Day 4, it was the batters who were praised for grinding it out earlier in the second Test against the West Indies.
The tourists dismissed the home side for 143 to wrap up the Frank Worrell Trophy with a 133-run victory in Grenada.
Mitch Starc (3/24), Nathan Lyon (3/42), Josh Hazlewood (2/33), Pat Cummins (1/26) and Beau Webster (1/15) all contributed but it was the batting performance in the second innings which must ben acknowledged.
Man of the Match Alex Carey, who made 63 and 30 at St George's, tipped his hat to the bowling attack while praising the batters who worked their way to 243 in the second dig to help set up the triumph.
“We thought the conditions would deteriorate,” Carey said on SEN Cricket.
“I think going into Day 1 after winning the toss we were obviously happy to have a bat first.
“We did think it would start to break up a bit and be quite variable. To the bowlers’ credit they put the ball in the right area, they have to do that, but for the batters to grind out to a total that was good enough is also full credit.
“It was a pretty all-round performance which was fantastic.
“I thought the (93-run) partnership of Cameron Green (52) and Steve Smith (71) yesterday was crucial in the second innings. Once we pushed over 200 and (towards) 250 I thought if we could bowl well enough for long enough and put the ball in the right area then that should be a defendable total.
“It proved again today the fast bowlers are fantastic for Australia, and Nathan Lyon’s not too bad as well.”
After making 166 runs in four knocks at an average of 41.5 with two half-centuries while taking 10 catches behind the stumps, Carey is at the top of his game right now.
But he played down his role which has been crucial in winning the first two Tests.
“I try to stay pretty level and focused on my job. My job first and foremost is to wicket-keep for Australia,” the 33-year-old said.
“It’s a really amazing bowling attack we’ve got and sometimes it’s hard to keep to as well so you’ve got to put in the work. These conditions deteriorate a lot.”
And his match duties did not end there.
Carey has the task of leading the team song - Under the Southern Cross - after Nathan Lyon recently handed it over.
“I got handed the reins in England for the last three games of the Ashes and I didn’t get to sing it unfortunately,” Carey added.
“I’m glad it didn’t take too long to get a Test win. The boys are keen, we’ll sing it quite early then venture back to the hotel and have a beer or two.”
The third Test is slated to be a day-nighter starting in Kingston on Sunday, July 12 (4:30am Monday morning AEST) but there are some concerns regarding the new lights being erected at Sabina Park.
However, Jamaican Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett is confident the match will go ahead as planned despite feeling some unease.
“I’m pretty sure about that (being ready),” Bennett told the Jamaican Observer.
“I’m a little bit uneasy because I would have hoped that everything would have been completed by now.
“But when you’re doing construction, there are unforeseen challenges, that’s exactly what happened with the lights and the scoreboard.
“But we’re on target, I’m confident that we’ll be ok with both the lighting and the scoreboard for the 12th, when the games are scheduled, I’m sure we’ll be ok.”
