Alex Carey was told all he'd be remembered for was the Bairstow stumping. This Ashes series is changing his legacy

During the 2023 Ashes series, Stuart Broad told Alex Carey that all he would be remembered for was the controversial stumping of Johnny Bairstow that ignited a furious 'spirit of cricket' debate.

It was meant as an insult but to be known for a ruthless edge and sharp work is a decent way to define yourself.

Now Carey has a new legacy: the title of the best wicketkeeper in the world.

READ MORE: Norris wins first F1 title as Piastri falls just short

READ MORE: 'Too late': Archer barb that ignited classic Smith moment

READ MORE: Boycott unloads on England after Ashes 'horror show'

The South Australian's reputation went to a whole new level during the second Test at the Gabba, keeping up to the stumps for 130km/h deliveries of pure line and length.

Dale Steyn described him as his "current cricket crush".

The catch to dismiss Ben Stokes off Michael Neser's bowling was a wicketkeeper's dream. Then there was the bouncers he was taking over his head off Scott Boland.

Australian women's team wicketkeeper and captain Alyssa Healy described it as "remarkable", saying she texted him saying "you're good" with an expletive at the start.

"I've never doubted he's the best wicketkeeper in the world but he's just proven it," she said on the Willow Talk podcast.

"It's genuinely technique and he's flawless in that regard ... his technique his just perfect and that's what you're trusting in that moment."

Healy added the decision for Carey to keep up to the stumps was a "game-changer".

"To have those guys back in their crease for an extended period of time brought some of those dismissals into play," she said.

After the Test ended, Carey's skipper Steve Smith said his performance behind the stumps was "something else".

"Neser was getting the ball up around 137-138km/h at times, Boland similar, he just gets in behind it and finds a way to get the ball in his hands," he said.

"It hits the batter's pads and ends up in his hands somehow. He works exceptionally hard, he's as fit as anyone, turns up day in, day out and rarely makes a mistake and pulls off unbelievable catches.

"When I was at slip when he was up to the stumps, I was so wide because of how much [ground] he covers. He gets his hands out there, and it's like he knows they're going to nick it at times ... that keeping performance was as good as I've seen."

Interestingly, Carey told cricket.com.au that he doesn't practice the art of standing up to pace bowlers at training.

"I think that can probably be a little bit dangerous at times," he said.

"You work on the fundamentals of the game and wicketkeeping – that's keeping up to the stumps to Nathan Lyon a lot.

"But (also) doing my drills in the nets with a nick bat, getting throws, trying to get in good positions. And then when you're in a game of cricket, I feel like your instincts take over most of the time.

"So trusting the positions that I'm in and then hoping that my instincts takes over and I get the right position to hang onto them. There's a lot of work that goes into it.

"But specifically to fast bowling, I don't practice keeping up to the stumps."

Carey now has 171 catches and 18 stumpings to his name in Test cricket.