Carey, an Australian wicket-keeper, is poised to take on a pivotal leadership position. He will assume the duties of songmaster for one national cricket team, as previously held, among others, by Rod Marsh and Ian Healy. This move comes in the leadup to the start of the West Indies’ third Test match against Australia, starting Sunday morning, AEST. Carey’s promotion to this newly-created position is a sign of his growing clout on the team. This speaks to the trust that veteran players have in him.
Carey was briefly appointed as the temporary songmaster during the 2023 Ashes series. He assumed this role while Nathan Lyon was out due to injury. Lyon has now officially passed on the songmaster duties to Carey ahead of the upcoming Test, emphasizing that this handover does not signify his impending retirement. “I believe Alex is the ideal candidate to take over as songmaster,” Lyon stated, reinforcing his confidence in Carey’s leadership abilities.
In the past, the songmaster’s role has been entrusted to some of cricket’s most legendary characters. Legends like Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, and Justin Langer have all contributed to the culture and spirit within the Australian team through this role. Carey’s appointment signals a continuation of this tradition, as the team looks to strengthen its camaraderie and morale on and off the field.
The Australian team are at a critical juncture with their playing XI decisions ahead of the pink-ball Test at Sabina Park. So the selectors are presented with a dilemma. They are weighing up whether to play pace bowlers Scott Boland or Sean Abbott, or bolster the batting by including Josh Inglis on the grassy, “greenish” wicket. Furthermore, if radical changes are made, the talented Beau Webster can be used as a fourth bowler. That’s all before even considering that veteran spinner Nathan Lyon could be dropped for this match. The potential amendment comes as a surprise given a marked change in the team’s approach.
Captain Pat Cummins has remained tight-lipped regarding team selections, stating, “We’re trying to still get our heads around exactly what (the pink ball is) going to do,” and adding, “I think everything’s an option, so yeah, we haven’t settled.” These comments further emphasize the team’s constant process of recalibrating its approach as they look forward to what will surely be a dogfight of a match.
As Australia’s cricketing landscape continues to evolve, Lyon affirmed the team’s aspirations for future success. “We’ve got that opportunity in a couple of years’ time, but we’ve got to take it Test by Test and make sure that we’re doing everything here in West Indies right,” he noted. He expressed his ambitions, stating, “Another World Test Championship final would be on my cards for sure.”
