Alex Carey banishes any Ashes demons with crucial runs for Australia in Boxing Day test

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Australia’s Alex Carey brought up his sixth test half-century against Pakistan at the MCG on Friday.

Alex Carey has gone some way to eliminating any potential Ashes demons, scoring his first test half-century since the controversial Jonny Bairstow stumping.

Carey provided a crucial 53 for Australia on day four of the Boxing Day test on Friday, helping the hosts set Pakistan 317 to win in the final innings.

Arriving at the crease late on day three with the test in the balance, Carey was the last man out after what could prove to be one of the defining knocks of the match.

As crucial as the runs were for Australia, it was just as important for Carey.

Dropped from the ODI side just one match into the World Cup in October, the selectors were adamant Carey was an automatic pick for the test team.

But noises from the outside grew around the 32-year-old’s form with the bat, despite the wicketkeeper gloving the ball as well as ever.

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Australia’s Alex Carey defends on day four against Pakistan at the MCG.

He had endured a difficult tour of India with the bat earlier this year, before two crucial scores of 66 to start Australia’s stint in England.

Since the Bairstow stumping at Lord’s and the weight of public spotlight and criticism in England that came with it, Carey has had limited returns with the bat.

Before Friday’s innings, Carey had scored 109 runs at 15.57 with only one score above 25.

Adam Gilchrist even admitted this week it appeared Carey had become withdrawn on the field since the Bairstow stumping.

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Alex Carey eased any pressure on his place in the Australian test side with 53 in the second innings.

On Friday, though, the shackles were off.

The left-hander played with real confidence in the second innings at the MCG, crunching a superb cover drive off Hasan Ali early on the fourth day.

There was also an uppercut that went for four off Shaheen Shah Afridi, along with a cracking on-drive to a full inswinger from the left-armer.

Carey worked closely with Andy Flower on his batting while on the outer during the World Cup, and this was its most notable impact so far.

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Pakistan’s Aamer Jamal is congratulated after capturing the wicket of Australia’s Pat Cummins on day four at the MCG.

The runs also came after Gilchrist made a point to back Carey’s spot in the team after his first innings score of four at the MCG.

“I don’t feel any need to have pressure on Alex Carey. I don’t see any extra burden or expectation that he has to do something,” Gilchrist said on Fox this week.

“Twelve months ago, he became the first Australian keeper to score a hundred in a Boxing Day test.

“He is reliable, his opinion is highly respected within the team set up in a number of areas. The runs will come.

“As long as he is doing his job with the gloves, there doesn’t need to be any expectation or external pressure on him.”