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How two wicketkeepers standing up to pace derailed England's Test dominance
Thirty England wickets fell in the two series as Carey and Blundell kept up to seamers at the fastest average delivery speeds ever recorded with a keeper up.
India first tried it in 2025, but Carey and Blundell made it a sustained weapon. Standing close forces batters to hold their ground rather than charging at bowlers, letting seamers pitch fuller and strike the stumps.
Carey took 11 England wickets while up; Blundell claimed 19 in three UK Tests. Harry Brook's average against pace was halved when a keeper stood up to him.
- 30 across two series
- England wickets lost
- 11 England wickets
- Carey standing up
- 19 in three UK Tests
- Blundell standing up
- Scott Boland 135.39kph average
- Fastest keeper-up bowling
Why it mattersAustralia and New Zealand meet in four Tests this summer, with both Carey and Blundell likely to deploy the tactic against each other.
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