🔗 Share this article Alex Carey's Brilliant Hundred Helps The Baggy Greens Recover After A Swift English Ashes Assault. After the frenzy from the Perth Test as well as the Gabba's pink-ball spectacle, a more familiar style of Test cricket broke out at the Adelaide ground. For the South Australian fans, the day proved a day to enjoy, as local hero Alex Carey delivered an outstanding hundred at his home venue to help the home side just shade the first day's play. Not that England, trailing 2-0 while still fighting in the contest, were entirely downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what appeared an ominous toss and, though far from at their best, the English attack continued toiling under sweltering conditions. By the close of play, Australia were 326-8 from 83 overs bowled – runs on the board yet likely below initial expectations when captain Pat Cummins won the toss first thing. The Pace of Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Fightback. The most impressive performer among England proved to be Jofra Archer. Returning figures of three for 29 off 16 overs constituted a powerful answer against the scrutiny that came his way. Here he clearly led the attack, averaging around 88mph (142kph) on the speedometer and offering Stokes both control and obvious menace. It was only towards the very end of the day – one over with the fresh cherry – that he appeared a bit weary. After dismissed Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's initial over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's duck was a reminder that cricket can bring a player back down to earth, his tepid chip to mid-wicket arriving barely 24 hours after trousering a record multi-million dollar contract in the Indian Premier League. Carey's Invaluable Contribution Steadies The Innings. Alex Carey's performance, in contrast, was simply priceless, culminating at late afternoon when he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three which prompted the Adelaide faithful to rise in a huge roar. Coming off his virtuoso display with the gloves in Brisbane, his counterattacking 106 runs off 143 balls ensured that the mid-innings stumble to 94/4 failed to develop into a full-blown collapse. The 34-year-old has become a genuinely Test match player these days. The Australian batting lineup did leave a few runs out there, however. Gone was the pronounced bounce from the first two Tests replaced by only a fraction of seam movement if a good length was hit. The pitch also offered a bit of grip to off-spinner Will Jacks, although his consistency was that of a part-timer – resulting in expensive figures of 2/105 from his 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will give hope to Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Solemn Context with A Late Switch. This was always going to be a poignant occasion for Australia, coming so shortly after the horrific tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence before the first ball was perfectly held, broken only by folk singer John Williams performing an emotional version of the anthem True Blue. By this stage, the hosts had also been forced into a change from their stated starting eleven. Steve Smith pulled out after reporting dizziness and nausea first thing – seemingly recurrence of a vertigo issue which has intermittently affected him ever since being felled by Archer at Lord's six years ago. In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his international career may be finished. Until the wicketkeeper's arrival, the left-hander had expertly held the innings steady, walking out with the score on 33/2 before finessing a fine 82 off 126 balls just a day before his 39th birthday. Stands of 61 with Labuschagne and 91 runs with Carey proved significant. England's Frustration Persists. Archer aside, and despite the energy-sapping heat, it remained still another frustrating day from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the series, finishing with two for 70 off 13 overs, while the incoming Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 in 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when tasked with sharing the new ball first thing, overstepping on five occasions yet removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular catch from Zak Crawley at cover. This moment summed up the day for both sides: moments of brilliance interspersed with periods of error-prone play.
After the frenzy from the Perth Test as well as the Gabba's pink-ball spectacle, a more familiar style of Test cricket broke out at the Adelaide ground. For the South Australian fans, the day proved a day to enjoy, as local hero Alex Carey delivered an outstanding hundred at his home venue to help the home side just shade the first day's play. Not that England, trailing 2-0 while still fighting in the contest, were entirely downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what appeared an ominous toss and, though far from at their best, the English attack continued toiling under sweltering conditions. By the close of play, Australia were 326-8 from 83 overs bowled – runs on the board yet likely below initial expectations when captain Pat Cummins won the toss first thing. The Pace of Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Fightback. The most impressive performer among England proved to be Jofra Archer. Returning figures of three for 29 off 16 overs constituted a powerful answer against the scrutiny that came his way. Here he clearly led the attack, averaging around 88mph (142kph) on the speedometer and offering Stokes both control and obvious menace. It was only towards the very end of the day – one over with the fresh cherry – that he appeared a bit weary. After dismissed Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's initial over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's duck was a reminder that cricket can bring a player back down to earth, his tepid chip to mid-wicket arriving barely 24 hours after trousering a record multi-million dollar contract in the Indian Premier League. Carey's Invaluable Contribution Steadies The Innings. Alex Carey's performance, in contrast, was simply priceless, culminating at late afternoon when he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three which prompted the Adelaide faithful to rise in a huge roar. Coming off his virtuoso display with the gloves in Brisbane, his counterattacking 106 runs off 143 balls ensured that the mid-innings stumble to 94/4 failed to develop into a full-blown collapse. The 34-year-old has become a genuinely Test match player these days. The Australian batting lineup did leave a few runs out there, however. Gone was the pronounced bounce from the first two Tests replaced by only a fraction of seam movement if a good length was hit. The pitch also offered a bit of grip to off-spinner Will Jacks, although his consistency was that of a part-timer – resulting in expensive figures of 2/105 from his 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will give hope to Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Solemn Context with A Late Switch. This was always going to be a poignant occasion for Australia, coming so shortly after the horrific tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence before the first ball was perfectly held, broken only by folk singer John Williams performing an emotional version of the anthem True Blue. By this stage, the hosts had also been forced into a change from their stated starting eleven. Steve Smith pulled out after reporting dizziness and nausea first thing – seemingly recurrence of a vertigo issue which has intermittently affected him ever since being felled by Archer at Lord's six years ago. In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his international career may be finished. Until the wicketkeeper's arrival, the left-hander had expertly held the innings steady, walking out with the score on 33/2 before finessing a fine 82 off 126 balls just a day before his 39th birthday. Stands of 61 with Labuschagne and 91 runs with Carey proved significant. England's Frustration Persists. Archer aside, and despite the energy-sapping heat, it remained still another frustrating day from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the series, finishing with two for 70 off 13 overs, while the incoming Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 in 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when tasked with sharing the new ball first thing, overstepping on five occasions yet removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular catch from Zak Crawley at cover. This moment summed up the day for both sides: moments of brilliance interspersed with periods of error-prone play.