Waugh compares Carey to Australian greats

World Cup winning captain Steve Waugh has likened Alex Carey to a pair of Australian greats and believes the in-form wicketkeeper is a potential match-winner during the back end of the 50-over tournament.

Carey's lusty lower-order hitting has been one of the finds of the World Cup for Australia, with the 27-year-old having amassed 173 runs from six knocks thus far at an impressive strike rate of 116.

The left-hander's efforts with the bat have caught the eye of Waugh and even prompted the 1999 World Cup winning skipper to liken Carey to a pair of Australian batting greats.

"Another to impress has been Alex Carey who is a hybrid of Michael Hussey and Michael Bevan," Waugh said.

"Carey plays with the perfect mixture of calmness and intent, assessing the situation and pouncing on any opportunities that present themselves in the frenetic pressure of the final overs.

"He shapes as a potential match-winner for Australia in the back end of the competition."

Carey isn't the only Australian to have impressed Waugh, with skipper Aaron Finch singled out for praise by the New South Welshman following his match-winning century against England on Tuesday.

Waugh believes Finch is currently in a rich vein of form and his innings against England was his best yet in Australia colours.

"He (Finch) is at the top of his game right now; mentally tough, technically sound, focused and trusting in his judgement of line and length," he said.

"He is leading the charge and allowing others the freedom to relax and play their own way."

Waugh also praised the decision by selectors to include Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Lyon for the England clash at the expense of Nathan Coulter-Nile and Adam Zampa.

The decision paid off in spades as Behrendorff tore through the England top order with a pair of early wickets to finish with superb figures of 5-44.

"The Australian selectors must be congratulated for the bold selection of Jason Behrendorff and the faith they showed in presenting him with the new ball," Waugh said.

"It had an immediate impact, with Behrendorff producing one of the deliveries of the tournament - an unplayable late in swinger that sent a bewildered James Vince back to the pavilion and destabilised England’s chase.

"His five-wicket haul was not only significant for its impact on the match, but his ability to swing it in conjunction with Mitchell Starc will have put all future batsman on notice that their techniques will be forensically examined."

Australia's next World Cup match is against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday.

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE