Alex Carey etched his name into Australian cricket history by becoming only the second Australian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Asia, following in the footsteps of the legendary Adam Gilchrist. Carey's scintillating hundred came off just 118 balls on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, marking a crucial innings for his team in a challenging situation. Gilchrist had previously achieved this feat four times in Asia, making Carey's achievement even more special. This was Carey's second Test century, his first since December 2022, and a testament to his growing stature in the longest format.
Australia, after bundling Sri Lanka out for 257 earlier in the day, found themselves in a tricky spot at 91 for 3 following the dismissal of Usman Khawaja. With the pitch assisting spinners, the hosts sensed an opportunity to capitalize, but Carey arrived at the crease in the 25th over and steadied the innings alongside Steve Smith. The Sri Lankan spinners, led by Dhananjaya de Silva and Ramesh Mendis, applied relentless pressure, forcing Carey into a cautious start. However, he gradually found his rhythm, dispatching boundaries and breaking free with a commanding six off Mendis.
As Australia entered the tea break without any further damage, Carey was poised at 49, and he wasted no time reaching his fifty immediately after play resumed, taking just 69 balls. With Smith anchoring the innings at the other end, the duo stitched together a formidable 150-run partnership, which coincided with Smith bringing up his 36th Test century. Carey's confidence grew as he unfurled an array of attacking strokes, culminating in a sublime century, which he reached by elegantly sweeping Prabath Jayasuriya to the boundary.
A tense moment came when a mix-up between the wickets almost led to Carey's run-out, but he survived the scare and continued his dominance. By stumps, Carey remained unbeaten on 139, ensuring Australia ended the day in a commanding position with 330 runs on the board for the loss of just three wickets, leading by 73. His knock not only solidified Australia's grip on the match but also underscored his ability to thrive in testing subcontinental conditions.
