🔗 Share this article Australia's Alex Carey's Brilliant Ton Assists The Hosts Recover From A Swift English Test Series Assault. After that chaos of the Perth Test and Brisbane's day-night palooza, an outbreak of traditional brand regarding Test cricket returned on the turf of Adelaide Oval. For the delighted locals, the day proved a day to cherish, with local hero Alex Carey delivered an outstanding hundred at his home turf to help the home side edge the first day's play. Not that England, 2-0 down while clinging on in this contest, were entirely downbeat. Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like a crucial toss and, despite being not at their best, his bowlers kept plugging away under sweltering conditions. At stumps, Australia were 326 for eight from 83 overs – a total on the board but surely short of initial ambitions when Pat Cummins got the choice in the morning. Jofra Archer Leads The Tourist's Fightback. The standout among England proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 from 16 overs were a powerful answer against the criticism that came his way. Here he clearly led the attack, clocking around 88mph (142kph) with the speedometer while providing his captain both accuracy together with obvious menace. It was only towards the end of the day – during a single over using the fresh cherry – that he appeared somewhat jaded. After bounced out opener Jake Weatherald first thing, the fast bowler's first over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. The all-rounder's golden duck served as a reminder of how this sport can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, coming from tepid chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day after trousering a massive multi-million dollar deal in the Indian Premier League. Carey's Invaluable Innings Rescues The Ship. Carey's performance, in contrast, was nothing short of priceless, peaking around 4.48pm as he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three and the crowd rose in a huge roar. Coming off that masterful outing with the gloves in Brisbane, the left-hander's aggressive 106 off 143 balls ensured that a post-lunch wobble to 94/4 failed to develop into a complete collapse. At 34, Carey has become a genuinely cricketer nowadays. The Australian batting lineup undoubtedly left a few runs on the field, though. Absent was that pronounced bounce of the opening matches replaced by only a fraction of seam movement if the right area was located. There was also some turn to Will Jacks, although his consistency was that of a part-timer – hence figures of 2/105 from 20 overs – and the balls he did get to turn sharply will encourage Nathan Lyon. Solemn Backdrop and A Late Switch. This was inevitably an emotional occasion for the host nation, coming so shortly in the wake of a devastating tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the start of play was immaculately held, broken only by musician John Williams performing a stirring rendition of the anthem True Blue. Earlier, the hosts had also been forced into an alteration to their announced XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn due to dizziness and sickness in the morning – an apparent return of a vertigo issue which has intermittently troubled him since he was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s six years ago. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his Test career may be finished. Until Carey's arrival, Khawaja had expertly held the Australian innings together, coming to the crease at 33/2 and crafting 82 off 126 deliveries just a day from turning 39. Stands of 61 with Labuschagne and 91 with Alex Carey were significant. The Tourist's Frustration Continues. Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the energy-sapping conditions, it remained still another disappointing day for England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his inconsistent form from the first two Tests, finishing with figures of 2/70 off 13 overs, while the incoming Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 in 15 overs. The Durham bowler was erratic when handed sharing the duty of the new cherry early on, no-balling on five occasions but still removing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a spectacular one-handed catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. It rather summed up the day's play for both teams: brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.
After that chaos of the Perth Test and Brisbane's day-night palooza, an outbreak of traditional brand regarding Test cricket returned on the turf of Adelaide Oval. For the delighted locals, the day proved a day to cherish, with local hero Alex Carey delivered an outstanding hundred at his home turf to help the home side edge the first day's play. Not that England, 2-0 down while clinging on in this contest, were entirely downbeat. Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like a crucial toss and, despite being not at their best, his bowlers kept plugging away under sweltering conditions. At stumps, Australia were 326 for eight from 83 overs – a total on the board but surely short of initial ambitions when Pat Cummins got the choice in the morning. Jofra Archer Leads The Tourist's Fightback. The standout among England proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 from 16 overs were a powerful answer against the criticism that came his way. Here he clearly led the attack, clocking around 88mph (142kph) with the speedometer while providing his captain both accuracy together with obvious menace. It was only towards the end of the day – during a single over using the fresh cherry – that he appeared somewhat jaded. After bounced out opener Jake Weatherald first thing, the fast bowler's first over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. The all-rounder's golden duck served as a reminder of how this sport can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, coming from tepid chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day after trousering a massive multi-million dollar deal in the Indian Premier League. Carey's Invaluable Innings Rescues The Ship. Carey's performance, in contrast, was nothing short of priceless, peaking around 4.48pm as he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three and the crowd rose in a huge roar. Coming off that masterful outing with the gloves in Brisbane, the left-hander's aggressive 106 off 143 balls ensured that a post-lunch wobble to 94/4 failed to develop into a complete collapse. At 34, Carey has become a genuinely cricketer nowadays. The Australian batting lineup undoubtedly left a few runs on the field, though. Absent was that pronounced bounce of the opening matches replaced by only a fraction of seam movement if the right area was located. There was also some turn to Will Jacks, although his consistency was that of a part-timer – hence figures of 2/105 from 20 overs – and the balls he did get to turn sharply will encourage Nathan Lyon. Solemn Backdrop and A Late Switch. This was inevitably an emotional occasion for the host nation, coming so shortly in the wake of a devastating tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the start of play was immaculately held, broken only by musician John Williams performing a stirring rendition of the anthem True Blue. Earlier, the hosts had also been forced into an alteration to their announced XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn due to dizziness and sickness in the morning – an apparent return of a vertigo issue which has intermittently troubled him since he was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s six years ago. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his Test career may be finished. Until Carey's arrival, Khawaja had expertly held the Australian innings together, coming to the crease at 33/2 and crafting 82 off 126 deliveries just a day from turning 39. Stands of 61 with Labuschagne and 91 with Alex Carey were significant. The Tourist's Frustration Continues. Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the energy-sapping conditions, it remained still another disappointing day for England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his inconsistent form from the first two Tests, finishing with figures of 2/70 off 13 overs, while the incoming Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 in 15 overs. The Durham bowler was erratic when handed sharing the duty of the new cherry early on, no-balling on five occasions but still removing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a spectacular one-handed catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. It rather summed up the day's play for both teams: brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.