Alex Carey has shrugged off suggestions Australia’s confidence could be rocked from their Perth nightmare, admitting he has been surprised by the vicious reaction to the first Test thumping.
Australia’s perfect pink-ball record at the Adelaide Oval goes on the line on Friday when they host India in arguably their most crucial Test under Pat Cummins’ captaincy.
Last winning a Test series after going down 1-0 back in 1997, Australia will need to create history if they are to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Criticism of Australia, who only had new opener Nathan McSweeney aged under 30 in the XI, since losing by a record 295 runs at Optus Stadium has come in thick and fast.
But Carey, one of Australia’s better performers last week, insists they have plenty of time to bounce back in the five-Test series.
“I think it’s quite a big reaction, externally, for one Test loss,” the wicketkeeper said on Tuesday.
“Internally, we don’t feel that.
“We didn’t play the way we would have liked to have played, but we know over five Test matches, we keep rocking up and playing our style of cricket, we will have the success.
“We’re calm internally and we’re excited to get back out there and play a better style of cricket.”
Victorian veteran Scott Boland will almost certainly play his first Test since last year’s Ashes, coming in to replace injured quick Josh Hazlewood (side strain).
In-form Tasmanian captain Beau Webster has been called into the squad as cover for sore allrounder Mitch Marsh.
After bowling more than Marsh and Australia were expecting in Perth, the Allan Border medallist will need to be carefully managed this summer.
Marsh could still play as a batter-only in Adelaide as he remains important to the top-six.
“He has been home, but I think he’ll be right. I haven’t heard otherwise,” Carey said of Marsh.
“His batting has been fantastic for us since he’s come back into this team.
“His bowling (in Perth), he took some handy wickets, so hopefully he’s right and ready to go.”
Australia arrived in Adelaide on Monday, a day earlier than planned, after being stunned inside four days in the series-opener.
They will train under lights with the pink ball on Wednesday.
