Ashes 2019: Mark Waugh and Shane Warne shocked by Alex Carey’s omission

Alex Carey was one of the star performers for Australia in the recently concluded World Cup. The southpaw batted with guts in the middle-order and churned out some knocks of substance, batting under tremendous pressure. He was one of the players, who was expected to make the cut for the upcoming Ashes in England, but unfortunately, he missed the bus for the high-voltage series.

Matthew Wade, who hasn’t played a Test for almost a couple of years, was selected as a backup wicketkeeper for Tim Paine, also the Australian Test skipper. Wade has been outstanding though in recent times. Quite expectantly, the decision to leave out Carey has shocked a few Aussie greats.

Waugh and Warne express disappointment

Mark Waugh, the former Aussie cricketer, was taken aback by the move, especially after how Carey delivered in the 2019 World Cup. “Got to be kidding Alex Carey. For me Alex missing the squad is the biggest shock particularly after his batting during the World Cup and being the second-best gloveman,” Waugh tweeted.

Even Shane Warne, the legendary spin wizard, couldn’t believe the fact that Carey didn’t find a spot in the 17-man squad. “Very surprised/disappointed that Carey didn’t make the Aussie squad,” Warne was quoted as saying on Instagram. In the clip, Warne also talked about Australia’s team for the opening Test, starting August 1 at the Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Australia hasn’t included the likes of Kurtis Patterson and Joe Burns, both of whom notched centuries in Australia’s last Test against Sri Lanka. It’s also the first time when Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner will be a part of a Test squad after the horrendous ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town that sent shockwaves around the cricketing globe.

Uncapped Michael Neser has been included as well. Fast bowler James Pattinson, who hasn’t donned the Baggy Green since February 2016, made his way into the squad. Mark Taylor, the former Aussie batter, reckoned that the selectors picked the team based on current form. Australia is the current holders of the Ashes, but the team has not won a Test series away to England for 18 years.