Ex-Aussie captain backs forgotten star to end three-year hiatus despite contract snub

Former Australian captain Alex Blackwell has encouraged national selectors to recall Nicola Carey ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup, with the all-rounder making an impressive start in her maiden Women’s Premier League campaign.

The 32-year-old, signed by reigning champions the Mumbai Indians at her base price of AU$50,000, cracked 40 (29) and 21 (12) in the franchise’s opening two matches, also taking five wickets with her skiddy seamers.

It comes after the Tasmania representative was named player of last year’s Hundred final having struck an unbeaten 35 from 25 balls for the Northern Superchargers in a seven-wicket victory against the Southern Brave, picked as an injury reserve.

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Carey, who made her international debut in 2018, played 23 ODIs and 27 T20Is for Australia before declining a national contract offer in 2023, prioritising her pre-season commitments with the Tigers rather than serving as a fringe player on the road.

But speaking to reporters at the SCG, former Thunder teammate Alex Blackwell, who was inducted into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame last week, declared that Carey was ready for a long-awaited national recall.

“I thought she had a great season, she is match-hardened,” she said.

“She’s had a wonderful WBBL, never seen her play better.

“She got the new ball, it’s swinging. I used to throw her the old ball, she was our depth bowler. She’s added the ability to bowl with the new ball and get it swinging.

“She bats great, left-handed, wonderful in the field. She’s won lots of titles.”

Carey, who featured in Australia’s triumphant 2020 T20 World Cup campaign, was a crucial figure as Tasmania won three consecutive WNCL trophies from 2022-2024, while she helped the Hobart Hurricanes win their maiden WBBL title earlier this summer.

Elsewhere, Australia has lost possession of both major ICC trophies after being knocked out of the semi-finals during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and last year’s 50-over tournament in the subcontinent.

Alyssa Healy’s team only has six 20-over matches scheduled until the next edition of the T20 World Cup, which gets underway in the United Kingdom in June.

”(Carey) is player of the final for the Hundred. If we want to win a World Cup final in a couple of months’ time in England, that final will be at Lord’s,” Blackwell continued.

“She has declined an Australian contract in the past, but that was a long time ago now. If I was a selector I would ask her what her views would be and get her in the camp.”

Australian captain Healy suggested the only thing preventing Carey from returning to the national set-up was her own motivation, adding the team is already stacked with all-rounders.

“That decision is up to Carey,” Healy responded when asked about Blackwell’s comments.

“She stepped away from an Aussie contract for a very good reason, to be at home, and didn’t want to tour without playing. I completely understand that. She has been super consistent since making that decision.

“She has been in outstanding form, over in the WPL as well.”

She added: “We have a thousand all-rounders, but having a lefty in there wouldn’t be a bad option.”

Asked about the prospect of earning a national recall following Saturday’s WPL match in Mumbai, Carey claimed that she hadn’t given it much thought.

“I’ve been really happy doing what I’m doing,” Carey told reporters in the post-match press conference.

“The reason I made that decision (to decline a national contract) was to play more cricket and I’ve been lucky enough to do that. It has been really good for my game and it has been really enjoyable to get consistent game time back home in our domestic stuff.

“It’s wild to think of the little opportunities that I’ve been afforded in the last 12 months even.”

The Mumbai Indians will next face the Gujarat Giants in Mumbai on Wednesday at 1am AEDT.

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