Carey a value addition for MI

Australia all-rounder Nicola Carey is as pragmatic as she is eccentric. She has the energy of a retriever, constantly excited, constantly reacting in wonder to the world around her. It’s an invaluable quality for Mumbai Indians, which has reaped the benefits of her all-round skill and match awareness in the absence of Hayley Matthews, who is nursing a sore shoulder.

“It would be fair to say I wouldn’t be starting if Hayley was fit. That means poor Melie (Amelia Kerr) has to go up top to face a couple of tough spells,” she said after Mumbai Indians’ first win of the season on Saturday.

“I’ve been lucky to find my way into the team. Hayley isn’t far off. It will be good for us to have her back, and Melie can then slot back to the position she has dominated for so long.”

The 32-year-old, a two-time World Cup winner, has made peace with being a crisis safety net.

“If you look at the other overseas players we’ve got in this line-up, they’re world-class players. I was under no illusions as to where I probably sat in that. I’d just prepare how I would if I were to go into a game anyway. I’ve spent plenty of time on the sidelines, so you just become used to it. That comes with the gig”.

Carey declined an Australian contract in 2023 in favour of a Cricket Tasmania contract. A T20 World Cup is coming up, and a bruised Australia, which suffered a disappointing exit in the 2024 edition, could use someone like Carey.

“I haven’t given it much thought. The reason I made that decision was to play more cricket, and I’ve been lucky enough to do that. I don’t know what’s going to happen in that space. Honestly, I’m really enjoying what I’m doing at the moment.”