Brad Haddin believes Test wicketkeeper-in-waiting Alex Carey is capable of batting higher up Australia's one-day batting order, but says their breakout World Cup star is performing a vital role right where he is.

The most inexperienced wicketkeeper coming into the tournament has more runs at this World Cup than any player who bats outside the top six after hitting a run-a-ball 71 against New Zealand on a used Lord's pitch that baffled every other batsmen.

Carey, Khawaja shine before Starc thunderbolts

Praise doesn't come much higher than Kane Williamson, among the very best at reading and adapting to conditions, suggesting Carey appeared as though he was playing on an entirely different surface.

The knock prompted former Australia opener Michael Slater to suggest Carey could move up to No.5, though the reigning 50-over champions would appear unlikely to want to tinker with the formula that's fired them to the top of the standings with one group game to play.

Haddin said while Carey could earn a promotion at some point in the future, potentially even returning him to the opening slot Australia briefly experimented him in during the summer, he stressed the importance of having a player with his skills at No.7.

"It's something I would look at," said the assistant coach. "I think you've got to with the way he plays and the calmness he has got at the moment, he can move up and down the order and with his opening.

Alex Carey earned Man of the Match honours for his knock against New Zealand at Lord's // Getty

"But from a keeper's point of view No.7 can also be a specialist spot.

"You get to bat in a few different situations like at Lord's under pressure or you've got to accelerate at the start of your innings and that's a skill as well."

There were raised eyebrows among pockets of Australian fans when such an inexperienced player was handed the national vice-captaincy last year, but Carey has taken to international cricket perhaps even quicker than his biggest backers expected.

QUICK SINGLE Waugh compares Carey to Australian greats

With 244 runs at 61, he's on track to become only the second Australian wicketkeeper to average over 50 in a World Cup after Haddin achieved the feat at the 2011 event opening the batting.

The 27-year-old has had a tidy campaign with the gloves as well, with Australia's bowlers feeding him 17 catches and a stumping to put him only three dismissals away from equalling Adam Gilchrist's World Cup record of 21 at the 2003 tournament.

Adam Gilchrist was kept busy with bat in hand, and behind the stumps at the 2003 World Cup // Getty

Asked what's impressed him the most about the former Australian Football League hopeful, Haddin said: "Just his calmness.

"The way he came into bat the other day at Lord's, we were under a lot of pressure, but he seemed in control straightaway.

"The wicket looked difficult at times to score but the way Alex composed himself and played calm through the innings.

Haddin guides Carey's keeping growth

"That just comes from playing more cricket. The one thing we know with Alex is he's started behind from a cricket point, but from a professional sports point of view, he's been around it his whole life.

"What I've noticed is the more cricket he plays, the calmer (he becomes) and the more situations like that become natural for him."

Carey is set to stay on in the United Kingdom after the World Cup to play in England's county T20 competition with Sussex, but he may have other duties to fulfill if he gets the nod to be Tim Paine's understudy for the Ashes.

Ponting's high praise for Carey

Australia typically pick a reserve gloveman on England Test tours, with the likes of Matthew Wade, who's continued his dominant form from the home summer on the ongoing Australia A tour, and Peter Handscomb among the other contenders for that spot.

QUICK SINGLE Carey quietly begins building Test case

Carey has made no secret of his Test ambitions and Haddin suggested he'll be squarely in the frame after Paine's reign is over.

"His name is definitely going to come up when Tim retires," said Haddin. "He's got the inside running with playing one-day cricket.

"He is handling that well at the moment. I know that is a big goal of Alex to play Test cricket and I can see no reason why he can't be competing for that spot when Tim hangs up the gloves."

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: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

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