Hopefully In Tests, It Will Be A Different Story, Says Alex Carey After Virat Kohli's Knock In Sydney

After witnessing a masterclass from India skipper Virat Kohli in the third T20I, Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey is hopeful the hosts would be able to keep the batsman in check.

Defending 164 on a good batting pitch in Sydney, Australia were off to a poor start. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan fired on all cylinders right from the word go.  As a result, India raced away to fifty in just 5 overs. The two addd 67 runs in just 5.2 overs before Mitchell Starc gave Australia the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Dhawan.

The hosts then managed to dismiss Rohit, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in quick succession to reduce India to 108 for 4. But just when it looked they would be able to make a match out of the contest, Kohli showed his class to steer his side home.  Kohli’s unbeaten 61 off 41 balls paved the way for India to beat Australia by six wickets in the third T20I and level the three-match series.

Speaking after the game, Alex Carey praised Kohli. At the same time, he hoped that Australia’s fortunes would change in the Test series.

“He obviously played really well tonight – he was put under a little bit of pressure towards the end but they started well in the powerplay and it was hard to peg them back.

“We’ve seen him do that before and he did it again tonight. Hopefully in Tests, it will be a different story – we’ve got some good pacer bowlers and Nathan Lyon. It will be a really good summer of cricket ahead,” said Alex Carey.

Australia made a surprise change in bringing Mitchell Starc back into the T20I fold. The game was Starc’s first T20I since 2016 and first in Australia since 2014. However, the lengthy absence from the shortest format of the game did not affect him as he made an instant mark by conceding just 26 off his four overs. In addition, he also took the prized scalp of Dhawan.

When asked about Starc, Alex Carey said:

“I thought he bowled really well tonight. Shikhar Dhawan obviously got him away for a couple of fours and that happens in T20 cricket but I thought he came into the side and he was really excited to play this game. He hasn’t played too many T20 games. I thought he had a real impact.

‘He’s played a lot of cricket now. He’s a real professional, looks after his body, come off a Shield game and into a T20 game now. I’m just as excited as you guys to watch him take on India along with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and obviously Lyon. He’ll be fine,” he said.

Both the teams will now renew their rivalry in the four-Test series, starting December 6.