Michael Carberry speaks exclusively to ecb.co.uk after day two of the first Ashes Test
By Rob Barnett
Michael Carberry knows “anything’s possible” as England seek to recover from a seemingly impossible situation in the first Ashes Test at Brisbane.
Australia lead by 224 runs with 10 second-innings wickets left after dismissing their opponents for 136 today, thanks mainly to Mitchell Johnson’s fiery 4-61 and Ryan Harris’ controlled 3-28.
David Warner then dominated an unbroken stand of 65 with opening partner Chris Rogers as the hosts strengthened their position further.
Carberry, playing in just his second Test at the age of 33, top-scored for the tourists with 40 from the top of the order. However, he was one of six wickets to fall for nine runs late in the afternoon session.
Speaking to ecb.co.uk at the Gabba, where England made a rearguard 517 for one to save the opening Ashes Test three years ago, Carberry said: “Every one of us has had bad days, both as a first-class cricketer and an international cricketer.
“You’re going to have those and you’re going to have bad sessions, but you can’t get down about those things. You have to somehow put them to one side and start again fresh tomorrow.
“It starts with the ball tomorrow. Our big lads have to come in and be nice and patient on this wicket. It is a good pitch, as shown. You can score your runs. And if we can get a few early poles tomorrow and restrict the scoring, as the Australians did to us today, then anything’s possible.”
Having quickly taken Australia’s last two first-innings wickets this morning - Stuart Broad claimed his sixth scalp and Carberry ran out Brad Haddin for 94 - England reached lunch on 55 for two.
Carberry and Kevin Pietersen, in his 100th Test, added 27 before Harris had Pietersen held at midwicket, starting the six-wicket slide.
“It was a disappointing session for us just before tea,” Carberry admitted. “We started the session nicely and our plan was to try and get through the new ball, which we weren’t quite able to do.
“Cookie got a good one up front. And then I think the Australians through the day put the ball in a good area and we never really got away from them at any stage. So credit to them.
“Tomorrow is a new day so we need to try to put that to one side and try to get ourselves back in the game.”
Carberry, who withstood ferocious fast bowing for two and three quarter hours, could at least take some satisfaction from his first Test knock since facing Bangladesh at Chittagong in March 2010.
“I wouldn’t say that it was comfortable, but (comfortable) as can be in the situation. I just tried to play my game,” he added.
“I realise my role as an opener as we’ve talked about on the tour so far really is to try and get through the new ball, and try to build partnerships, which unfortunately we weren’t quite able to do today.
“We had little stints or we looked as though at times we were going to start to build something and then unfortunately we lost wickets. We realise we can’t do that at this level. We have to try and do that better second time round.”