Alex Carey Breaks Adam Gilchrist’s Record With Historic 150* In Galle Test

February 8, 2025: Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey etched his name in history on Saturday by surpassing the legendary Adam Gilchrist’s record for the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper-batter in Asian conditions. Carey achieved this remarkable feat during the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, where he reached 150 runs for the first time in his first-class cricket career.

In the 87th over of Australia’s first innings, Carey reached the milestone with a paddle-sweep off Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, crossing the 150-run mark. His knock, which included 15 fours and two sixes, came off 188 balls at a strike rate of 82.98. Carey’s stay at the crease came to an end in the 93rd over, when he lost his off-stump to a Jayasuriya delivery while attempting another sweep. He was dismissed for 156, an innings that has now made him the first Australian wicketkeeper-batter to score more than 150 runs in Asia.

Before Carey’s innings, the record for the highest score by an Aussie wicketkeeper-batter in Asia was held by Adam Gilchrist, who had scored 144 runs in both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Carey’s achievement makes him only the second Australian wicketkeeper, alongside Gilchrist, to notch a century in Asian conditions.

The match itself has seen strong performances from both teams. Sri Lanka, having won the toss and elected to bat, posted a total of 257 in 97.4 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Kusal Mendis (85) and Dinesh Chandimal (74). Australia’s bowlers, Mitchell Starc (3/27), Matthew Kuhnemann (3/63), and Nathan Lyon (3/96), were pivotal in restricting Sri Lanka’s total.

In response, Australia has shown resilience after losing three early wickets, with Carey’s knock alongside a solid 120* from Steve Smith lifting the team to 330/3 by the close of Day 2, with a lead of 73 runs. As the innings continues, Australia’s advantage is now well over 100 runs, thanks to the contributions of Carey and Smith, who have ensured their team’s position of strength in this crucial Test match.