Ton puts Carey in frame

AUSTRALIAN assistant coach Andrew McDonald admits that Alex Carey’s Marsh Cup century has strengthened his Ashes case, but a batting masterclass from fellow Test hopeful Matthew Renshaw appears just as likely to have captured the Aussie selectors’ attention on Sunday.

Carey’s hopes of making his Test debut were fast-tracked when Tim Paine dropped out of the Ashes squad, with his place likely to go to either Carey or Josh Inglis.

Carey (pictured) looks to have the edge on Inglis, especially after putting a disappointing run of Sheffield Shield form behind him to make a timely century in South Australia’s loss to Queensland on Sunday.

Carey wasn’t the only Test hopeful to spend the day putting pressure on the selectors.

Renshaw (156 not out) raised his bat for his maiden Marsh Cup century, a reminder of why he was picked for international honours at just 21.

Renshaw has been picked in the Australia A squad for the summer so will be firmly in the selectors’ minds if a specialist batter goes down injured.

It won’t take an injury for Carey to feature squarely in the Ashes selection conversation, particularly after Sunday’s knock.

After a last-minute concussion ruled Jake Weatherald out, Carey found himself partnering debutant Henry Hunt at the top of the order and the pairing proved lethal.

By the time Max Bryant caught Hunt (61) at mid-wicket, the South Australian openers had partnered for 159 runs – the Redbacks’ highest-ever Marsh Cup opening partnership against Queensland.

Carey (101) was bowled by would-be Test teammate Marnus Labuschagne soon after.

Former Australian ODI star Gurinder Sandhu thwarted the Redbacks, chalking up figures of 4-44.

South Australia won the momentum briefly, sending Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Sam Heazlett on their way barely 10 overs into the second innings. But when Renshaw hit his stride, the Queenslanders were again in the driver’s seat in the last domestic match before the Ashes break.