Cummins bats for Carey after shaky Sydney Test

He's scored one half-century but his low scores of 12, 9, 6, 0, 19 and 13 don't quite paint the right picture. © Getty
Alex Carey, in his short Test career, hasn't quite had the best of starts. In four Tests, he's made 110 runs at an average of 15.71. In addition, his work behind the stumps with the gloves on has also been under scrutiny.

He's scored one half-century but his low scores of 12, 9, 6, 0, 19 and 13 don't quite paint the right picture. He had to open at the Gabba after an injury to David Warner, and the duck in Sydney came at a time when the camp expected him to score quickly and there was no time to settle in. Test captain Pat Cummins, understandably, has backed the 'keeper after a shaky start.

"On his batting, I probably haven't helped him out declaring on him last game," Cummins pointed out on the eve of the final Test on Thursday (January 13). "The thing that is really consistent with Carey is that he's willing to do anything it takes to help out the team. He put himself out there at the Gabba batting in the second innings.

"Keeping, it's his first year - it's tough - he's working really hard and we are super confident in him. Eight catches in the first game would be an incredible standard to keep that up. I've been happy. He's been confident enough going for the balls that he missed early on in the series. [We're] not worried - he's class, has played plenty of games for Australia. We are really confident in what he can bring and think there's been a lot of big positives, so the message to him is to keep doing what you are doing."

And while Carey's position seems safe at this point given Cummins's stand, one player that has had to face the axe is Marcus Harris. Australia will open with Usman Khawaja and David Warner in the final Ashes Test while Travis Head will slot in at No. 5. "I think he knew it was coming," Cummins said. "The message to 'Harry' is that we think he's going really well, it's tough on him.

"It's not too often that someone comes in and gets two hundreds in the same game. I thought Marcus has been really good, he's been growing with each game. He was a huge part of why we won that MCG Test. He's certainly part of the future, we'll keep investing him.

"Uzzie and Davey have earned their spots to open the batting but the reality is they're both 35 years old. While that doesn't mean anything in the short term, there will be a day when we need to some more openers. This is more of a case of someone demanding a spot rather than Marcus losing his spot due to form."

Cummins now has three wins from his first four matches as Australia captain after England were able to draw the Test in Sydney. He acknowledged the contributions from different players in different circumstances have helped the side perform well.

"When you look back at previous Ashes, it's been Warner, Smith, Marnus, Joshy Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, so it's been great to have these other guys who have come in and felt comfortable enough that they can dominate straightaway. Think that's a real nod to the amount of talent we have around Australia in Shield cricket. It's been really pleasing and shows we don't have to be reliant on the same three, four players. Feel like anyone in the XI or the squad can be a match-winner."