Alex Carey keen to continue batting higher up the order after a stint at No. 6 at the Gabba in the second Ashes Test

Alex Carey was up to the stumps at the Gabba, and also up the order, batting at No. 6 instead of his usual No.7. He relished the challenge — and is open to going even higher. Should he? Have your say.

Daniel ChernyIn Adelaide

@danielcherny

2 min read

December 14, 2025 - 6:19PM

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Alex Carey is keen to keep batting higher up the Australian order after his successful elevation to No. 6 in the second Test.

The South Australian has batted in the usual wicketkeeper’s spot of No. 7 for 52 of his 67 Test innings, as well as 11 knocks at No. 8, usually when a nightwatchman has been utilised.

But in a rich vein of batting form dating back to March 2024, Carey was promoted to No. 6 at the Gabba last week, making 63 from 69 balls.

It continued an excellent record held by Carey – from an admittedly small sample size – when he bats at No. 5 or 6 in Tests. Carey made 156 in the second Test at Galle earlier this year, his sole Test innings at that position, having made an unbeaten 46 at No. 6 in the previous match of that series against Sri Lanka.

With Travis Head elevated to the top of the order, there remains scope for Carey to have an extended stint at No. 6 depending on the composition of the side.

The gloveman said he would relish the chance to get more of a bat.

“I’d always love to bat as high up the order as I can. I do it in Sheffield Shield cricket, I bat five, at times four. I love batting,” Carey said at a Coopers promotional event on Sunday.

“I also understand that in Australia, there’s a lot of amazing batters, and if it’s down at number seven, then that’s absolutely fine, too.

“So we’re a little bit spoiled for choice, and this group of 15 has definitely got, you know, a makeup of really good top seven batters, whoever walks onto the field, and we saw Ingo (Josh Inglis) last week in go batting at seven.

Carey is keen to bat further up the order. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

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“Beau Webster’s around as well, and Cameron Green’s floated up and down. So yeah, we’ll see where the selectors decide on this game. But yeah, love batting as high as possible.”

From below 30 in early 2024, Carey’s Test batting average is now 34.98. He said he took pride in his performance with the willow.

“I just love contributing to games where we win. But yeah, I love, I love batting. And you know, being put up to No. 6, obviously there’s always responsibility that you’re in the top six. Now we speak about the top six around the country, but yeah, I love it, and hopefully I’ll have a bit of an impact this week (in the third Test) as well.”