Legend’s high praise for 'keeper Carey

Alex Carey's swift rise through the ranks of Australian cricket has no end in sight, with Ricky Ponting not only endorsing him as the wicketkeeper for the World Cup but also labelling him capable of filling in as captain.

It's hard to find to anyone who has a bad word to say about the clean-cut Carey, who has impressed teammates and coaching staff with his unassuming leadership and off-field attitude as much as his steady acclimatisation to international cricket.

The 27-year-old is in the box seat to take the gloves at this year’s World Cup after confident performances abroad against India and Pakistan, making his maiden ODI half-century from No.7 in the fourth ODI in Dubai while his glovework has remained sharp throughout.

Carey's leadership qualities were formally recognised when he was appointed a co vice-captain of the limited-overs sides this summer, and Ponting believes he's a genuine back-up candidate to lead should anything happen to Aaron Finch.

"Alex Carey offers the best package as keeper," Ponting told cricket.com.au when asked who he sees filling the role for the World Cup.

"He's dangerous at the top of the order or late in the innings because he does score 360 degrees, he's a deceptively hard hitter of the ball and for mine, he’s just the right character, he's the right person that you want to have in your team.

"I actually think he's got really good strong leadership qualities as well.

"If anything happened to Finch through the World Cup or leading into the World Cup, then I think he's really well-equipped to lead the side, even though he's still relatively inexperienced and never captained Australia before. 

"I like the look of him."

Carey's path to the national team has been far from conventional, having been rejected by professional teams in two different sporting codes before beginning his rapid ascent.

As a teenager, he was delisted by Greater Western Sydney after being their inaugural captain in their opening season as an Australian rules football club. Turning his hand to cricket, he then spent two years on the outer at South Australia after initial taste of top-flight cricket, before seizing his chance the second time around.

With that in mind, Carey is conscious of nailing his spot down in Australia's one-day team and not worrying about his own leadership ambitions.

"I'd like to be at the World Cup first," the 27-year-old told cricket.com.au when asked if he'd be ready to captain Australia. "We've got lots of leaders around this group.

"Usman Khawaja is playing some really good cricket and he's taken his game and his leadership to the next level.

"(Fellow vice-captain) Pat Cummins is another one who has lots of respect around the group. We've got lots of guys. Hopefully Finchy (skipper Aaron Finch) is fine and stays on the park and don't have to worry about that one."

Selection chief Trevor Hohns recently mentioned Test skipper Tim Paine and Matthew Wade, as well part-time gloveman Peter Handscomb, as other possible keeping options for the tournament.

But Ponting believes Australia have left it too late to switch glovemen and suggested Carey’s extended run in the ODI side over the summer reflects a preference to have him behind the stumps for their 50-over title defence.

I think it’s too late now to be making those changes on your keeper," Ponting continued.

"But I just like the overall package, he's been through a high-performance system with his footy in the past and he's learnt certain leadership things going through that set up as well and he brings those to the Australian cricket team.

"On the back of that he's a very, very good cricketer. So, I've got him in my starting XI for sure."

Australia's World Cup fixtures

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