Alex Carey will captain Australia in the first ODI of the three match series against the West Indies with regular skipper Aaron Finch ruled out with a injury.
According to Cricket Australia’s media release, Finch had sustained the knee injury while batting in the fifth T20I and his availability for the ODI series will be assessed on a day to day basis.
Carey will become just the fourth wicket-keeper and overall the 26th man to captain Australia in one-day international cricket.
”I am deeply honoured to be able to lead the team while Aaron recovers. To captain Australia is one of the greatest privileges in sport and an honour I am extremely thankful to receive,” Carey said.
”Finchy is our captain and we will welcome him back with open arms when he is fully fit, so for now I hope I can fill the role to his extremely high standards. To lead this group against the West Indies in the West Indies is a great challenge and one I very much look forward to for as long as I have the opportunity,” he added.
Only three keepers have captained Australia’s men’s ODI team in the past. They are Adam Gilchrist (17 matches), Ian Healy (8) and Tim Paine (5).
Carey, who has played 42 ODIs and 33 T20Is for Australia, has previous captaincy experience at the domestic level, having skippered his state and BBL teams as well as Australia A last summer.
”For a long period of time Alex has shown an extremely high level of professionalism and discipline as a fantastic leader within this group,” coach Justin Langer said.
”The injury to Finchy gives Alex the opportunity of his first experience as captain. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic job with the support of the other senior players,” he added.
The Australians will be looking to bounce back from their 4-1 T20I series loss to the same opposition and have reason to be confident having won each of their past three ODI campaigns.
Langer’s team currently sit third on the CWCSL standings and can draw level on points with second-placed Bangladesh if they manage to win this series 3-0. West Indies, sitting ninth with 30 points, can climb as high as third this series.
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