Alex Carey managed to stay out of the spotlight as he made a successful return to England on Thursday night in Australia’s seven-wicket win in the first ODI. It marked the first time Carey played in England since becoming public enemy No.1 during last year’s Ashes series.

Carey didn’t get a bat and wasn’t involved in any dismissals as Travis Head pulverised the Poms in record-breaking scenes to help Australia take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. But Carey was probably happy to stay out of the spotlight considering the furore that exploded in England last year.

The Aussie wicket-keeper copped widespread backlash from angry Poms after his controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. While the majority of the cricket world thought Carey was well within his rights, the English felt it was against the “spirit of the game” for the Aussie to stump an unsuspecting Bairstow.

Alex Carey reveals how Ashes backlash affected wife

Carey suffered a decline in form throughout the rest of the series, and previously revealed how the backlash affected him mentally. And speaking ahead of the ODI series against England, the 33-year-old lifted the lid on how some of the awful comments were directed at his wife and kids as well.

“I actually didn’t see a lot of the commentary – or most of it at least – until I watched ‘The Test’ doco and it was really highlighted,” Carey told ABC Sport on Thursday. “I was aware there was some things being said of course but I was there with my family, we’ve got two young kids, so they were keeping me pretty busy.

“Look, it’s never nice hearing things spoken about yourself, but more importantly [I had an issue with] the personal attacks on my family. It was unwarranted and disappointing to see that.”

Despite becoming a target herself, Carey’s wife Eloise proved to be his rock. “I think initially it’s quite shocking to see that sort of stuff,” he said about online comments and trolling. “My wife Eloise was there, she was an amazing support to me, always has been.

“She’s an amazing mum and was doing all the heavy lifting while I was away on tour, playing with the kids. That mostly kept her busy, but once she read a few of those things … Some of it was pretty gross … I had to make sure I supported her as well – that’s my job. She’s been incredible, the kids were too young [to understand] anything but probably heard some new words in the crowd that they hadn’t before.”

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Alex Carey stays out of spotlight in first ODI against England

Carey didn’t receive any unwanted treatment from English fans on Thursday night at Trent Bridge. However he might have to face the music when the series arrives at Lord’s for the fourth match.

Whether or not Carey will be playing remains to be seen, after he deputised for a sick Josh Inglis on Thursday. Inglis has overtaken Carey as Australia’s preferred white-ball keeper in the last 12 months, but joined a number of teammates in missing the first ODI as sickness swept through the tourists’ camp.