Greats boost Carey ahead of Cup debut

He might be the World Cup's greenest gloveman, but Alex Carey is undaunted by the weight of defending Australia's impeccable tournament record.

Selectors could hardly have backed Carey in more heavily over recent months, handing him the vice-captaincy through one of Australian cricket's most testing periods before naming him as the sole wicketkeeper in their Cup squad.

Having only featured in 19 ODIs since his debut last year, the 27-year-old is comfortably the least experienced of the tournament's 10 presumed first-choice wicketkeepers, an imposing list topped by the inimitable MS Dhoni (341 ODIs) and featuring white-ball stars Jos Buttler (129) and Quinton de Kock (106).

In fact, the former Australian rules football hopeful is the only keeper among them who hasn't played at least 50 games.

It stands in stark contrast to the extended audition Australia's last three World Cup keepers underwent before their tournament debuts. Ian Healy had played 63 ODIs before being handed the gloves for the 1992 campaign, Adam Gilchrist had notched 58 before his 1999 entrance, while Brad Haddin featured in 76 games in a decade-long apprenticeship under Gilchrist before his first Cup appearance in 2011.

One must go back over three decades to Greg Dyer's selection for the 1987 event, the breakthrough World Cup that sparked five Australian wins in eight tries, to find an Aussie keeper who was more wet behind the ears going into the tournament.

Even among Australia’s current World Cup squad, only Jason Behrendorff (six ODIs) has played fewer games than Carey.

Though, as the South Australian points out, their extended touring party is hardly short of big-tournament nous.

Haddin is now the fielding coach, three-time Cup winner Ricky Ponting is an assistant, while current skipper Aaron Finch along with David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell are all holdovers from their 2015 victory.

"We've got a lot of knowledge," Carey told reporters in London two weeks out from Australia's tournament opener on June 1.

"Brad Haddin played in the last World Cup, we've got Ricky Ponting coming in, we've got a number of players who played in that last World Cup.

"We've got lots of knowledge around the group of guys to access. When we get into it, that's when the high-pressure (experience) comes into it."

On the field, Carey has given glimpses of the promise Australia's brainstrust have seen in him.

Although the left-hander is yet to make his mark with a breakout individual performance, a batting average of 35 down the order reveals a reliable presence. Missteps behind the stumps meanwhile have been rare.

Ahead of Australia’s World Cup 15 being picked, selection chief Trevor Hohns revealed last summer's standout domestic performer Matthew Wade, Test captain Tim Paine and batter-cum-keeper Peter Handscomb were all in the wicketkeeping frame.

And despite having been endorsed by the likes of Ricky Ponting as being capable of taking over leadership duties from Finch if required, Carey himself was making no assumptions over his place in the squad before its confirmation last month.

"It's pretty exciting, playing for Australia at a World Cup," said Carey. "I know what I've got to do to help this team and it's not just about myself, it's about the whole squad.

Asked about defending Australia's title, Carey added: "There has been a lot about worrying about our preparation and getting ready for game one, more than what’s happened in the past.

"It’s been a long time since that World Cup and a lot of new faces. I know myself and the rest of the boys are excited to start our preparation in London and focus on game one.

"It’d be nice (to defend their 2015 title) but there’s a lot ahead of us for that to happen."

WORLD CUP KEEPERS - MOST EXPERIENCED TO LEAST

MS Dhoni (India) - 341 ODIs

Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh) - 204

Jos Buttler (England) - 129

Quinton de Kock (South Africa) - 106

Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan) - 104

Tom Latham (New Zealand) - 85

Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan) - 80

Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) - 62

Shai Hope (West Indies) - 53

Alex Carey (Australia) - 19

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 22: (warm-up) Australia v West Indies, Southampton

May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE