BRENDAN LINES
LOXTON-born Australian Test squad member Alex Carey has ended conjecture around whether he’s a Riverland cricket product.
Carey told the Murray Pioneer he has no doubts about where he calls home.
“It says Loxton on my passport,” he said.
“Wherever I go and whenever I’m asked to sign anything in the cricket world I put Loxton as home.”
Carey, who moved from Loxton when he was two years old, still has family ties to the Riverland.
“There’s a connection to the Riverland in that my brother ended up marrying a girl from Browns Well,” he said.
Riverlanders will have to wait for an opportunity to cheer on their latest product after the recent postponement of the tour of South Africa.
The wait has carried on 42 years, since Waikerie-born Rick Darling’s last appearance as a Test batsman for Australia.
Despite the setback Carey is still proud of his achievement.
“I was really pleased and proud and looking forward to my first Test tour,” he said.
“I understand the situation that in a pandemic you prepare for anything.
“I guess it’s gone against us on this occasion that it doesn’t look like this test tour will go ahead at this stage.
“But we’re hoping those three games will get made up somewhere and I get a taste of my first Test tour soon.”
For now, Carey’s focus is on state duties rejoining the Redbacks’ Sheffield Shield team amid what is a winless season so far.
But he is optimistic.
“There’s only four games to go, so teams will want to put their best foot forward,” Carey said.
“And we’re no different. We want to finish the season with four wins ideally but playing some really consistent cricket.”
With the likes of Carey and Australian teammates Travis Head and Kane Richardson now available to play fortunes may change for the Redbacks in its clash against Western Australia, in Perth, this week.
Contrary to the Redbacks’ recent Sheffield Shield form Carey believes South Australia is still producing top talent.
“I still think what we are producing is really strong and talented cricketers,” he said.
“If you look at the numbers over the last probably three to four years we’ve got many who played an ODI in ‘Frank’ Worrell, Chad Sayers, Callum Ferguson, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Travis Head in the Test team.
“And the next wave is coming through.
“I think Jake Wetherald, obviously Lloyd Pope is highly wrapped…who I think will play for Australia in the future.”
Before Riverland cricket fans can cheer on another local Test product Carey said he must be patient.
“If there is any lesson, it’s prepare to play and prepare to go away until you are told otherwise,” he said.
“Until I’m on the plane to go away or out in the middle playing you’re never quite sure if it’s going to go ahead.”