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What Smith wants from his Test 'keeper

Aussie captain addresses competition for wicketkeeping duties on eve of Shield clash in Adelaide

As he scrutinises candidates for the two available vacancies he sees in his Test outfit, Australia captain Steve Smith revealed there is a consideration almost as important as catching and batting when deciding who will take the keeper's gloves.

Smith, who will gain a first-hand look at the two leading rivals to incumbent Test gloveman Matthew Wade when New South Wales begin their JLT Sheffield Shield campaign against South Australia tomorrow, believes a keeper's vocal presence is a vital element of the job specification.

The Australia skipper confirmed on Thursday that "there are probably nine guys that are there or thereabouts" in the make-up of the XI he envisages leading on to the Gabba for the opening Test of the Magellan Ashes Series against England in a month's time.


One of the two berths yet to be inked in is that of wicketkeeper (along with the number six/batting allrounder role) and Wade has acknowledged that it's his lack of runs more so than flaws in his glovework that sees his place in jeopardy.

But while indicating that batting remained the secondary skill when the National Selection Panel decides on who is best-credentialed to fill the keeper's job for Australia, Smith added that on-field presence and motivational prowess were also key considerations.

When Wade was recalled to the Test team last November to replace current NSW keeper Peter Nevill, one of the reasons cited was his combative character, which contrasted with Nevill's more passive demeanour behind the stumps.

With South Australia's Alex Carey – the other gloveman touted as a candidate to replace Wade should selectors opt for a change – recently admitting he's more "annoying" than abrasive on the field, Smith's observation might be interpreted as a tacit endorsement of Wade a month before the Ashes opener.

"Around the world, every team has had that balancing act with trying to get the right balance between wicketkeeping and batting," Smith told reporters at Adelaide Oval today when asked if batting or keeping prowess was viewed as pre-eminent in selection.

"Wicketkeeping is more important, and it's also what they bring to the team and the energy they provide out in the middle to ensure they're driving the other players around the group.

"That's a big job of the wicketkeeper.

"Everyone's a chance if they're putting performances on the board, we've said that for a while.

"We've taken a bit of a stance at Cricket Australia of picking some younger guys, that was a bit of a directive from the (CA) Board and we saw some young guys come in – (Matthew) Renshaw, (Peter) Handscomb and guys like that – and do a really good job.

"There's a bit of pressure on for some spots so we want to see guys play under pressure and play well.

"We spoke about that in Bangladesh (after the two-Test series last September).

"Wadey was honest himself and said he needed to score more runs, and he came back and played a couple of good innings in the JLT Cup and he's got another opportunity to put his name up there again in these Shield games."

While admitting that his primary focus for the day-night Shield game on Australia's most challenging batters' wicket will be posting individual scores of substance and leading NSW to victory, Smith will also maintain a watchful eye on the performances of both Nevill and Carey.

With Bupa Support Team men's coach and national selector Darren Lehmann also watching from the grandstand, Carey stressed that he was approaching the potential Test trial against an international-standard Blues opponent as "business as usual".

Confident Wade tuning out critics

"It's out there in the media, there's spots up for grabs," Carey said today. "Obviously Nevill wants to play well and I want to do well, and there's other keepers around the country that want to do well.

"I think as a wicketkeeper-batsman you've got to be a really good wicketkeeper first and foremost.

"Batting comes with that, so all the batters and wicketkeepers around are key batters in their side.

"I want to push my case and make runs and get in the top six for South Australia.

"But for me, it's keep working on the gloves, that's the main focus.

"Then, when it comes time to bat, it's hopefully put a good score on the board."

As a member of the exclusive and tightly knit wicketkeeping fraternity, Carey also feels some empathy for Wade who noted recently that – having been criticised for his work with the gloves early in his Test career when he was deemed to be more of a batsman – there was an irony in the current scrutiny on his returns with the bat.

"I think it's pretty tough, the criticism of him," 26-year-old Carey said in defence of the current Australia Test keeper. "He's a really good player, there's no doubting that.

"He's got some really good numbers with his batting in first-class and Test cricket, and as a gloveman he's really good as well.

"When you're not winning games for Australia there's always going to be scrutiny on you.

"He obviously wants to make more runs – Nevill's the same, and I'm no different."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21