Carey a bolter for World Cup leader

BEN HORNE ALEX Carey has emerged as a chief candidate for the World Cup captaincy as Australia fights to piece together its leadership puzzle.

Tim Paine is locked in as Australia’s Test skipper ahead of the upcoming series against Pakistan, but beyond that all balls are in the air.

National selectors are on the hunt for a replacement Test vice-captain, as well as a new skipper and deputy for the one-day team.

Paine isn’t expected to play

The Barrier Reef 1000 is the biggest event FNQ Speedway Riders will host for the year.

The Barrier Reef 1000 race experienced a 22-year absence but the FNQ Speedway Riders are excited about its third consecutive year in 2018. ODI cricket again in 2018 after struggling against England, and Carey, 26, is not only set to take the wicketkeeping gloves from him, but is also firmly in the conversation to take the helm heading into next year’s World Cup defence.

It would be a stunning show of faith in a keeper with just three ODI caps, but Carey’s shock claim to the throne reflects the enormity of the void left by Steve Smith’s ban.

Natural leader Mitchell Marsh is likely Australia’s preferred heir apparent across the formats, but the all-rounder’s

FNQ Speedway Riders secretary Peter Valmadre said a large field of northern and southern riders is expected.

“Nominated classes include senior sidecars, solos, Moto X dirt bikes and junior Moto X bikes as well,” Valmadre said. history of injury problems casts doubt over whether he can be trusted with captaincy at this point.

White ball destroyer Aaron Finch received praise for his work in charge of the Twenty20 side, but it’s understood there remain concerns about his tactical abilities.

Carey has already been thrust into the vice-captaincy of the Twenty20 international team and the Australia A oneday and four-day sides that have arrived in India for a tour ahead of October’s two-Test series against Pakistan in the

“This year we ran the Barrier Reef meeting in conjunction with North Queensland Speedway Riders’ ‘Moon Memorial’ last Saturday as a speedway series, which guaranteed a large field of northern and southern riders, as they UAE. Marsh has a golden opportunity for Australia A to stake his claim for the Test vice-captaincy. But could he skipper Australia?

“I think he can be a potential leader, definitely. I played with Mitch when he first came into the professional arena and he’s a terrific man. But his fitness … is obviously of concern,” said former all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

“You need a bloke who is there pretty much 90 per cent of the time, but that’s something I’m sure he knows about.” have to compete in both to get their pooled prizemoney from both clubs in Cairns.”

Heats will be three laps, with four-lap finals.

Gates open at 4pm this afternoon, with racing to commence at 6pm.

Test great Shane Warne this week openly questioned Tim Paine’s future in the role.

“The Australian way is always to pick your best team. There is a lot of talk about that, should Tim Paine be in the side?” Warne told Fox Sports.

“I don’t think we should just make a captain and then fit a side around him. I think the captain and vice-captain should still be up for grabs.”