'Unbelievable' Carey in Ashes mix: Head

South Australia captain Travis Head has backed Alex Carey for an Ashes berth this summer, suggesting a few big scores in the JLT Sheffield Shield could tip national selectors’ hands into picking a wicketkeeping bolter.

Australia's wicketkeeping position is up for grabs as the first Test against England on November 23 approaches, with form in the three Shield rounds before the Magellan Ashes-opener set to be a crucial factor in who gets the nod at No.7.

Incumbent Matthew Wade and his predecessor Peter Nevill remain the frontrunners. But after a record-breaking Sheffield Shield campaign with the gloves last summer, Carey was rewarded with Australia A selection for the aborted tour of South Africa earlier this year and could feature in selectors' thinking.

On the eve of the JLT One-Day Cup final in Hobart – where the Redbacks defeated Victoria in the elimination final on Thursday thanks in part to Carey's 92 – Head labelled the 26-year-old’s glovework as "unbelievable".

"He's an extremely positive cricketer, I think he showed that again yesterday, he played beautifully," said Head. 

"Unfortunately he couldn’t get a hundred. He's in great form like all the batters. 

"His 'keeping is unbelievable, I think he showed that last year. 

"But it's the half chances that he takes, with the opportunities that he makes (from nothing).

"If he can have a big start of the (Shield) season, he puts his name in the hat (for national selection). 

"I think he can do it. He's in great form and hopefully he does the job again tomorrow."

While Nevill is widely regarded as the finest pure gloveman in the country and good judges have praised Wade's 'keeping improvements since returning to the Test side last summer, both men by their own admission have fallen short of expectations at the batting crease.

Nevill averaged 22 with the bat in his 17-Test stint behind the pegs while Wade hasn't fared any better since his recall, averaging a tick over 20 in 10 Tests.

While a maiden domestic century remains elusive for Carey, the left-hander became only the fourth 'keeper to score at least 500 runs and effect 50 dismissals in a single Shield season, joining a club started by Adam Gilchrist in 1995-96.

Domestic dismissals, all formats 2011-12 to 2016-17

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While the intense scrutiny that comes with being a Test prospect in Ashes year can prove overwhelming, Head believes Carey, a talented junior footballer who captained fledgling club Greater Western Sydney in their first year before they joined the AFL, is handling the pressure well.

"He's extremely professional from his AFL background and being involved in that environment, he holds everything really well," said Head.

"He doesn't put too much pressure on himself. He's extremely well prepared and ready to go. 

"If he puts the right performances together and gets that (Test) gig, I'm sure he'd take it."

It's been a painful few years for Head, who has led South Australia to two successive Sheffield Shield finals but twice been pipped by Victoria, prolonging the Redbacks’ two-decade long four-day title drought.

Now having attained a measure of revenge over the Bushrangers with a 176-run JLT Cup elimination final on Thursday, Head is eyeing South Australian glory in the 50-over competition for the first time since 2011-12.

"It (silverware) has eluded us over the last few years," said the 23-year-old. "Unfortunately we've been a little bit ahead of our tine, with an extremely young team. But now is the right time to take that next step and start winning some silverware. 

"We get the opportunity again tomorrow, it's (been) great to get these opportunities to win silverware over the last few years, unfortunately we haven’t been on the right side of it. But I think we're doing the right things.

"This is the best I've seen us play the whole time I've been involved with South Australia. 

"I've never seen the batting group in such good form throughout, even the bench guys have been unbelievable. The bowlers are in great touch. The batters are getting hundreds. It's really exciting."

Head's men will have their work cut out for them on Saturday, with Western Australia the clear competition standouts having won five of their six group matches. 

Their only defeat came in a nail-biter against South Australia last week in Sydney, and Warriors captain Mitchell Marsh believes it'll come right down to wire again on Saturday.

"Over the last couple of years, South Australia and us have built up an awesome rivalry," Marsh said. 

"We’ve had some seriously close games in all formats. Hopefully it'll be the same tomorrow, but hopefully the outcome will be better (for WA)."

Australia's wicketkeeper contenders

Matthew Wade

Age 29 State Tasmania

Tests: 22 | Runs: 886 | 100s: 2 | 50s: 4 | Ave: 28.58| HS: 106 | Catch: 63 | Stump: 11

First-class: 110 | Runs: 5186 | 100s: 9 | 50s: 32 | Ave: 37.57 | HS: 152 | Catch: 364 | Stump: 21

Peter Nevill

Age 32 State NSW

Tests: 17 | Runs: 468 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 3 | Ave: 22.28 | HS: 66 | Catch: 61 | Stump: 2

First-class: 86 | Runs: 4264 | 100s: 9 | 50s: 21 | Ave: 40.22 | HS: 235* | Catch: 264 | Stump: 15

Alex Carey

Age 26 State South Australia

First-class: 18 | Runs: 794 | 100s: 0 | 50s: 6 | Ave: 25.61 | HS: 79 | Catch: 75 | Stump: 2