Ashes 2021-22: Alex Carey breaks Rishabh Pant’s record of most catches on Test debut

Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey etched his name in record books during the first Ashes Test at Gabba. The southpaw took eight catches and went past India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s, who had taken seven catches on his Test debut against England in 2018, to take most catches on Test debut.

The 30-year-old was compact and managed to move briskly behind the stumps. In the first innings, he pouched three catches before taking five in the second. The southpaw’s record eight catch came when he took the catch of Chris Woakes off Chris Green’s bowling. Carey also went past England’s Chris Read and Australia’s Brain Taber, who also had taken seven catches on their respective Test debuts.

Meanwhile, Australia picked up an emphatic nine-wicket victory over England in the first Ashes Test. The hosts' bowlers were slight off colour on Day 3 and allowed the game to marginally drift away. On Day 4, the bowlers came back to their elements and blew away the England batting.

Nathan Lyon started the process of England's downfall by sending Dawid Malan for 82. It was the veteran bowler’s 400th wicket in Test cricket, the 17th bowler to achieve this incredible feat. Lyon could not get any wicket in the first innings, as the pace trio of Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood did the job by bundling out England for 147.

In the second innings though, Lyon made amends and picked up four wickets. England, who promised a lot on Day 4, lost the remaining eight wickets for just 77 runs.

Skipper Cummins was delighted by the team’s performance and said, “A lot of things did go right. So someone was smiling at me. I’m really proud of everyone, I thought it was a really complete performance,” said Pat Cummins, making his debut as Australia Test skipper.