Jamie Smith, England’s wicketkeeper, was asked on Tuesday if he would be trying a similar trick to Carey if Australians left their crease.
“I think out here with the pace and bounce, I’d be too far back to actually hit the stumps, especially when you try to do that sort of stuff in a white ball game, I’m useless at it,” smiled Smith, diplomatically. “So I wouldn’t even hit the stumps anyway.”
The stumping was a key moment in the last series, which saw Australia retain the Ashes. Carey received a torrent of abuse from England fans for the remainder of the series, and was even erroneously accused by Sir Alastair Cook on Test Match Special of failing to pay for a £30 haircut in a Leeds barbershop.
Carey is a mild-mannered and thoughtful soul, and the reaction to the stumping did appear to unsettle him, and his batting form struggled. Eventually, he was last man out – neatly he was caught Bairstow, bowled Broad – as the hosts completed a 49-run win at the Oval which squared the series 2-2 and ensured Australia still have not won the Ashes in England since 2001.
Gilchrist: Barmy Army in Bay 13 at MCG ‘un-Australian’
England fans will be allocated tickets in one of the most sacred parts of the MCG for the Boxing Day Ashes Test which has left an Australian great describing it as “un-Australian”.
The Barmy Army will be situated in the Bay 13 section of the stadium which is renowned for being one of the rowdiest parts of the ground and has been key in building an atmosphere in previous matches. England fans will also be situated in blocks 11, 12 and 14.
The decision has left Australians reeling with former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist criticising the decision.
“You’re kidding? That’s un-Australian, that,” Gilchrist told Code Sports.
“It’s un-Australian, I say that tongue in cheek of course. Good on them [the Barmy Army] for getting in early enough to book it, I guess.
“It’s going to create a good, fun atmosphere and I can see the smirk on their faces as they roll in there each day knowing they’ve kept the locals out.
“It will be interesting to see the reaction from the locals, I think they’d be disappointed to not be a part of such a historic precinct of the ground.”
