Alex Carey

He began in grade cricket as a specialist batsman and struggled at first. Even so, South Australia handed him a rookie contract for the 2013-14 season. Recognising that a second skill would help, he took up wicket-keeping, gradually grew into the role, and found more chances in the side while batting in the lower middle order. A strong 2015-16 grade season brought a late call-up to the Sheffield Shield for the final rounds, followed by his first senior South Australia contract for 2016-17. That season he became only the fourth keeper to score more than 500 runs and take 50 dismissals in a single Sheffield Shield campaign.

Though Tim Paine was preferred for the 2017-18 Ashes, Carey kept scoring runs domestically and was chosen as Australia's limited-overs keeper in the second half of 2018, soon becoming first choice in white-ball cricket. At the 2019 Cricket World Cup he took 18 catches, a record for a keeper in one edition. He was later appointed ODI vice-captain, led Australia to a win over West Indies while Aaron Finch was absent, and made his first ODI hundred against England in 2020.

When Paine stepped down, Carey received his Baggy Green in the first Test of the 2021-22 Ashes. His first Test century arrived in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in 2022, making him the first Australian keeper to reach three figures since Brad Haddin in 2013. He was in the XI that beat India in the 2023 World Test Championship final, contributing in both innings, and drew attention for stumping-style run-out of Jonny Bairstow at Lord's during the Ashes, after Bairstow left his crease believing the ball was dead.

Carey was picked for the 2023 Cricket World Cup but was dropped partway through for Josh Inglis after a run of low scores, while keeping his Test place. He later made an unbeaten 98 to help Australia chase 279 against New Zealand in testing conditions. With Inglis now keeping in limited-overs cricket, Carey has become a Test specialist.