SL vs AUS 2nd Test: Alex Carey Breaks Adam Gilchrist's All-Time Australian Record With 156 Against Sri Lanka

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Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey on Saturday (February 8) broke legendary Adam Gilchrist's record by becoming the first wicketkeeper-batter from Australia to touch the 150-run mark in Asian conditions.

Carey achieved this feat during the day three of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium in Galle. In the 87th over of Australian innings, Carey paddle-swept a delivery by Prabath Jayasuriya to bring up his 150 runs.

With this, the 33-year-old stumper crossed the 150-mark for the first time ever in first-class cricket. Earlier, the record for the highest score by an Aussie wicketkeeper-batter in Asia was held by Gilchrist, who scored 144 runs each in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Carey is now also the second wicketkeeper-batter from Australia besides Gilchrist to have a century in Asia. Gilchrist scored solitary centuries in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka along with two tons in India. Gilchrist is second in the list for most Test centuries by a visting wicketkeeper in Asia.

Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower, who currently works as a coach in franchise cricket, holds the record for most hundreds by a non-Asian player in Asia with five centuries to his name.

Coming back to match, Carey walked in to bat at number on day 2 of the second Test in Galle, and stitched a massive 259-run stand with fellow centurion Steve Smith, who also broke the record for most hundreds in away Test matches by an Australian batter.

While Smith was dismissed for 131 in the 85th over by Prabath Jayasuriya, the same bowler also ended Carey's stay in the 93rd over. Prabath cleaned up Carey, who lost his off-stump while attempting a sweep as the Australian wicketkeeper departed for 156 in 188 balls, with 15 fours and two sixes. His strike rate was 82.98.

Smith and Carey's stand helped Australia finish at 414 in response to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 257, and in the process claimed a 157-run lead. The hosts had lost both the openers in the second innings with the score reading 33 for 2, still 124 behind the Aussies.