How Virat Kohli, Steve Smith’s Advice Helped Australia Star Alex Carey Produce Match-Winning Effort In WTC Final Against India

In Australia’s two Test matches this summer in England, Alex Carey has been one of their more assured batsmen, amassing 180 runs in three innings and only being struck out twice. Both in the WTC final against India and the opening Ashes Test, he exuded confidence. This follows a lackluster tour of India earlier this year, during which he frequently lost wickets for no reward by making erroneous, badly executed strokes.

Alex Carey seeks motivation from Virat Kohli

Speaking with Cricket.com.au, Carey disclosed that he stopped playing the reverse sweep after receiving criticism for it from two of the best batsmen in the world, Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, as well as his wife Eloise. Carey has attempted a reverse sweep 17 times in 2023 and has failed on four occasions, most recently in the first innings of the WTC final when batting on 48 and against Ravindra Jadeja. Carey criticized such a decision, saying, “There was no need to play that at The Oval in the first innings.”

Smith and Kohli

The Australian wicketkeeper then admitted that Smith and Kohli had criticized his choice of shot because the reversal had already caused him trouble in India. You probably pay attention to Virat Kohli and Steve Smith when they ask, “What are you doing that for?” he remarked. While providing commentary for the WTC final, Ricky Ponting also produced a clip that demonstrated how much more successful Carey was while attempting the traditional sweep shot.

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Carey in the WTC final against India

In the first inning against England at Edgbaston, Carey did play the reverse once after reaching his fifty-first run. Carey claimed that he had not been enticed to play Moeen Ali and that he had only done so when a chance to score a run presented itself. “The opportunity I noticed after 50 yesterday was that no one was boundary riding out there, and (Ben) Duckett came into point. Although I didn’t get one, I doubtless saw chances to score elsewhere.