Australian wicket-keeper-batsman Alex Carey fell agonizingly short of a century during the successful fourth innings chase of 279 against New Zealand in the second and final Test of the series. Carey’s missed opportunity to reach triple figures can be attributed to his captain, Pat Cummins, who secured the winning runs in a memorable three-wicket victory at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

This remarkable comeback victory was orchestrated by the reigning Test and ODI champions, who initially found themselves trailing in the match but managed to claw their way back into contention. Australia, tasked with chasing down 279 for victory, relied heavily on the contributions from their middle and lower-middle order. Captain Pat Cummins, in particular, stepped up with a crucial 32-run innings off 44 balls to steer his team to triumph.

Carey chuckles after Pat Cummins prevents him from reaching a century

It’s a rarity to witness Alex Carey achieving a century from the lower-middle-order position. Despite facing uncertainty in white-ball formats, his red-ball career presents an opportunity for resurgence. In order to solidify his place in the Test side, Carey had to deliver from the number 7 position in the fourth innings, aiming to wrest victory from the grasp of his Trans-Tasman adversaries.

He was genuinely content to forgo his second Test century in favor of securing the win, recognizing that nothing surpasses the satisfaction of being instrumental in a comeback victory. Following the exhilarating triumph, during Pat Cummins’ discussion of the thrilling second Test win, he admitted to being unaware that Carey was just two runs shy of a century.

“I had no idea he was on 98. That would have been embarrassing if he was celebrating (his century) and I wasn’t looking,” Pat Cummins remarked during the post-match presentation.

Later, during the press conference at Hagley Oval stadium, Alex Carey was asked about his reaction to Pat Cummins preventing him from reaching a century. Carey expressed contentment with the situation, indicating that he preferred not to be on strike again.”I was happy with that. I didn’t want to get on strike again,” Carey conveyed to reporters.

“Cummins expresses his affection for Test cricket” following a hard-fought and thoroughly earned victory in Christchurch

Australia entered the second Test buoyed by their convincing 172-run victory over the hosts in the first match. Pat Cummins’ men carried momentum and a clear winning mindset, yet New Zealand mounted a brief resurgence. Despite being bowled out for 165, the Kiwi bowling attack, spearheaded by Matt Henry’s impressive 7-wicket haul, managed to restrict the Australians to 256.

In the third innings, New Zealand showcased classic Test batting with contributions from Tom Latham (73), Kane Williamson (51), Rachin Ravindra (82), Daryl Mitchell (58), along with valuable innings from Glenn Phillips (16), Scott Kuggeleijn (44), and Henry (16), ultimately setting a target of 279 for Australia.

Australia’s reply was dismal as their top-order batsmen, including Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, and Travis Head, could only muster 49 runs collectively. With five wickets down for just 80 runs, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey steadied the innings with a 140-run partnership before Marsh departed for 80.

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Carey then partnered with Pat Cummins to further solidify Australia’s position until the victory was secured. Although not without challenges, Australia’s experience in such situations proved crucial. Cummins emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum and pressure on the opposition.

“I just told the boys to keep the scoreboard moving, stay busy, and put the pressure on the opposition. We’ve got an experienced side; the story of this series has been guys standing up in crunch moments. Love playing Test matches, the best format of cricket, and it pays off on days like this,” Pat Cummins concluded.

Australian cricket stalwarts Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne are gearing up for Sheffield Shield participation this week following their return from the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2023.

In addition, all-rounder Cameron Green is poised to feature for Western Australia against Queensland, embarking on his journey to reclaim a spot in the Test side. Carey, omitted from the one-day squad after the World Cup clash between India and Pakistan, is eager to find his form as he faces Victoria in Adelaide ahead of the Test series against Pakistan.

Carey’s recent performances in the Ashes were marked by scores of 8, 5, 20, 10, and 28, following his notable fifty in the World Test Championship final against India and a crucial half-century in the victorious match against England at Edgbaston. Despite being dropped from the World Cup playing XI after the initial match, Carey remains determined to make a strong comeback as he takes on the wicketkeeping duties for South Australia against Victoria at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, preparing for the first Test against Pakistan in Perth on December 14.

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Labuschagne, who made a remarkable return to the ODI team post his exclusion from the World Cup squad, is set to face Green for Queensland in an effort to hone his red-ball skills before the Test matches.

Meanwhile, Green, who featured prominently in three matches during Australia’s triumphant World Cup campaign, has also secured a spot in the Playing XI to face Pakistan in Canberra next month. This selection hints at a preference from national selectors for West Australian all-rounder Mitch Marsh to claim the No.6 spot in the first Test against Pakistan.