“That one is for you, Dad": Alex Carey breaks down during maiden Ashes century celebration; wife left in tears

Australia’s star wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey smashed his maiden Ashes hundred by hitting the ball through the cover region and running three runs off Ben Stokes in the ongoing third Test against England at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on Wednesday (December 17).

It was a very special hundred, as Alex Carey came in to bat at a difficult time, when Australia had just lost two wickets quickly and was under pressure. He stood tall and changed the flow of the match, putting Australia back in control against England.

Alex Carey shines under pressure, hits first-ever Ashes hundred in Adelaide

As soon as Carey reached his maiden Ashes century, the entire Adelaide Oval crowd stood up and applauded him. His teammates clapped for him from the dressing room, as it was a well-earned innings, where he showed his patience, class, and determination against England.

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After reaching the milestone in the ongoing third Ashes 2025-26 Test, Carey took off his helmet to acknowledge his home crowd, as Mitchell Starc came over to hug him and congratulate him.

Alex Carey dedicates maiden Ashes Test ton to late father; crowd in tears

It was an emotional moment for the Australian wicketkeeper and his family, as Carey looked up at the sky and dedicated the innings to his late father, who passed away in September 2025 after battling leukemia.

While Carey stood there soaking it all in, his wife, Eloise, couldn’t hold back her tears in the stands as she watched him achieve this special milestone in front of the home crowd. He became the fourth Australian wicketkeeper who have smashed Ashes hundreds.

"That one is for you dad!"

A wonderful moment as the hometown hero Alex Carey brings up 100.#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/aEdfwRedz5

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2025

Alex Carey looks to the sky mid maiden-Ashes hundred celebration. He lost his father to leukemia in September. His partner in tears in the crowd too. What a player he's become. @SEN_Cricket @1116sen

— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) December 17, 2025

CAREY's WIFE IN TEARS 🤍

- One of the Underrated Test batter, Alex Carey. pic.twitter.com/avBAGrQR1p

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 17, 2025

Adam Gilchrist salutes Alex Carey after emotional Ashes hundred at Adelaide

Meanwhile, legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist heaped praise on Alex Carey after his special milestone at the Adelaide Oval. Gilchrist described the knock as a special moment that came in front of his family, friends, and a home crowd.

Adam Gilchrist said on Kayo Sports, “It is an emotional hundred for a quality cricketer. It is his third in Test cricket. His first in an Ashes. That one is for you, Dad. He was brilliant with the gloves up in Brisbane, next level, and he has brought it to his home ground with the bat. What a magical moment here at an amazing cricket ground. So many extraordinary feats have been carried out at this venue, and that is one for the ages, an Ashes hundred to Alex Carey.”

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Carey’s Ashes ton ends in disappointment,

However, Carey’s innings came to an end in an unfortunate way. Will Jacks bowled a delivery that was slightly short and outside the off stump. Carey tried to play an attacking shot, but the timing was poor. The ball took a top edge, popped up gently near the pitch, and the England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith quickly moved across and took an easy catch.

As Carey walked back after scoring 106 runs off 143 balls, hitting eight fours and one six, the Adelaide Oval gave him a standing ovation for his brilliant knock in the ongoing third 2025-26 Ashes Test.

Notably, Carey started his career as a talented footballer with Greater Western Sydney before moving back to South Australia to focus fully on cricket, and that’s when his father turned into his perfect coach and mentor. The wicketkeeper many times acknowledged his father’s role in his career.

In 46 matches, Carey has scored 2,205 runs at an average of more than 36, along with 12 half-centuries to his name. In Ashes, he has so far scored 578 runs at an average of 27.52, with four innings where he crossed the fifty-run mark in 13 tests against England.