Alex Carey Confirms “I Have Paid For All My Haircuts”

Aussie Wicketkeeper-Batter Denies English Media Reports And Says He Hasn’t Spoken To Jonny Bairstow Since The Lord’s Test.

Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey denied reports in the UK media, repeated by Sir Alastair Cook on BBC’s Test Match Special, that he visited a UK barber for a haircut and left without paying.

“I have paid for all my haircuts” laughed Carey, speaking to Triple M’s Rush Hour with Bernie, Blewey & Jars.

The story gripped the cricket-watching public during the Third Ashes Test at Headingley, after a Leeds barber told notorious British tabloid ‘The Sun’ that Carey got a cut but then left his establishment after some confusion over international money transfers.

Australia vice-captain Steve Smith was quick to dismiss the ‘story’ at the time by saying “I can confirm that Alex Carey has not had a haircut since we were in London. Get your facts right The Sun!”

Now Carey also denies the story. But saw good humour in the situation.

“I actually reckon I’m owed a free haircut if I go back to the barber. He’s had a lot of free publicity!”

In his first radio interview during the Ashes, Carey also revealed that he hasn’t had the chance to catch up with Jonny Bairstow since stumping the Englishman at Lord’s; a dismissal that proved very unpopular with many English fans, even including the ‘egg and bacon’ wearing MCC Members at the Home Of Cricket.

Although he said “there was no animosity on the field at Leeds,” although there was some pointed singing and related chants from the stands.

“I haven’t had a conversation with Jonny since Lord’s. He’s a fantastic cricketer though. Hopefully it ends up with [The England Team] coming into our rooms and we all have a beer.”

LISTEN TO THE FULL CHAT WITH ALEX CAREY HERE:

Carey is looking ahead to the Fourth Test of what has been a blisteringly exciting Ashes Series already. With the score at 2-1, he anticipates two more results with games “on fast forward” despite the predicatable potential of rain in Manchester for the Old Trafford Test Match starting on Wednesday.

He also spoke about selection for the Aussie team, listing the potential attributes of Cameron Green, Mitch Marsh, Josh Hazlewood and Michael Neser.

And on the subject of the beleagured opening batter, Carey backed Dave Warner in saying “Warner’s record over 100-plus Tests is up there with the very best”

He is wary of English pace bowler Mark Wood, noting that at Headingley he “got hit on the head and it was pretty rapid”

Keep up with the latest Ashes news with the Willow Talk podcast on LiSTNR. And for more Alex Carey, keep up-to-date with his favourite show (so he says!): The Rush Hour with Bernie, Blewey & Jars