World Cup 2019: 3 surprise packages from the tournament

#3 Alex Carey (Australia)

Alex Carey was in fine form in the middle order

When Australia selected Alex Carey as the wicket keeper batsman for the World Cup, not many in their own country believed that he was the man for the job behind the stumps. However, the left-handed batsman proved everyone wrong by essaying some key knocks that took Australia into the semifinals.

Against West Indies, Australia were reeling at 79-5 after Jason Holder decided to send the opposition in to bat. Alex Carey joined Steve Smith at the crease and steadied the ship with right mixture of attack with defense. All the headlines were about Nathan Coulter Nile’s 92 but it was Carey’s stability that laid the platform for Coulter-Nile's aggression.

After showing good form with the bat through the tournament, Alex Carey was promoted to No 5 after Australia lost early wickets in the semifinal against England. Even though he was hit by a fiery bouncer off Joffra Archer, the left hander showed great composure to continue and put up a fighting 46.

Alex Carey became one of the key components of Australia’s ODI side as he notched up a total of 375 runs from 9 matches at an average of 62.50 and certainly looks set for a long career as wicket-keeper batsman.