Australia's Scott Boland on Alex Carey's Pivotal Wicketkeeping Tactic in the Ashes 2025-26
Australia's Scott Boland has discussed the strategic wicketkeeping approach employed by Alex Carey during the Ashes 2025-26 series. Carey stood up to the stumps when keeping to Boland and Michael Neser, a tactic that effectively blunted England's aggressive batting.
This close proximity to the stumps prevented England's batters from standing outside the crease, resulting in crucial wickets and limiting the opposition's ability to impose their game. The effectiveness of this tactic contributed to the Ashes series concluding within just 11 days.
Boland acknowledged that the approach had an impact on his ego and bowling length, but he expressed trust in Carey as well as captains Pat Cummins and Steve Smith to decide when to deploy this tactic. The idea was initially proposed by coach Andrew McDonald before the previous Ashes, and it has taken over two years to be fully implemented.
Carey noted that due to the dangers involved, he does not regularly practice keeping up to the stumps. Nonetheless, his wicketkeeping alongside contributing 267 runs in the series has been pivotal for Australia; teammate Travis Head also scored 379 runs.
Having overcome a hip issue, Boland is now poised to play in the upcoming Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
