'Terrific' Alex Carey makes first blunder of Test career as Mitchell Starc misses out on key wicket

New Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey has enjoyed a successful start to his Test career this month, but he might have to apologise to teammate Mitchell Starc after an opportunity went begging for the Australians.

After dismissing Ollie Pope during the 45th over of England's second innings, Starc missed the chance to nab a second quick wicket an over later when he found the outside edge of Jos Buttler... but Carey awkwardly watched the ball sail past.

Carey instead looked at first slip David Warner, in which it appeared he was hoping his teammate would do the honours of taking the catch.

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But following several replays of the moment, former Australian cricket star Shane Warne declared it was the first blunder of Carey's Test career.

"It's gone right between Warner and Carey," Warne said on Fox Cricket.

"Anything left of first slip should be the wicketkeeper's catch... that was Alex Carey's.

"It's strange why Alex Carey let that go to first slip. Look where Carey is, he doesn't have to go that far.

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"It's the first mistake he's made I reckon. In two Test matches behind the stumps, he's been terrific, but that's the first mistake I reckon."

Despite the blunder, Carey has emerged as a long-term Test player for the Australians.

While he's taken several catches behind the stumps, the 30-year-old has also shown his ability to bat after producing a half-century (51 off 107 deliveries) in the first innings of the second Test.