Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Brilliant Century Assists Australia Recover After An Early English Ashes Assault.

After the pandemonium from Perth and the Gabba's day-night palooza, an outbreak of traditional style regarding Test cricket returned at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted South Australian fans, the day proved a day to cherish, as homegrown talent the wicketkeeper-batsman delivered a sparkling hundred on his home ground as Australia Australia edge the opening day.

Not that England, trailing 2-0 and still fighting in the contest, were entirely downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what appeared an ominous toss and, despite being far from at their best, his bowlers kept persevering under 35c heat. At stumps, Australia had reached 326-8 from 83 overs bowled – runs on the board yet likely short of their ambitions when Pat Cummins won the choice in the morning.

Jofra Archer Leads England's Effort.

The standout for England proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 from his 16 overs were a strong answer to the scrutiny that came this past week. Here he clearly led the attack, clocking 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer and offering his captain a combination of accuracy together with clear menace. It was only towards the very end of the day – one over using the fresh cherry – did he look somewhat weary.

Having dismissed opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's first over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. The all-rounder's duck was a reminder of how this sport can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back to reality, his weak chip to the mid-wicket fielder arriving less than a day after trousering a massive multi-million dollar contract in the IPL.

The Keeper's Priceless Innings Rescues The Innings.

Carey's performance, in contrast, was simply priceless, peaking at late afternoon when he elegantly drove Ben Stokes through cover for three runs which prompted the Adelaide faithful rose with a roar. Coming off his masterful outing with the gloves at the Gabba, his counterattacking 106 from 143 balls ensured that the post-lunch wobble to 94 for four failed to develop into a full-blown collapse. At 34, Carey has become a genuinely Test match player these days.

The Australian batting lineup did leave a few runs on the field, however. Absent was the pronounced bounce of the first two Tests replaced by just a hint of seam movement if a good length was hit.

The pitch also offered some turn for Will Jacks, although his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in expensive figures of 2/105 off his 20 overs – and the balls he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Context with Late Team Change.

This was inevitably a poignant day for the host nation, coming so shortly after a devastating terrorist attack at Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the start of play was perfectly held, followed by folk singer John Williams delivering an emotional rendition of the anthem True Blue.

By this stage, Australia were also forced into a change to their stated starting eleven. Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting feeling dizzy along with sickness in the morning – an apparent recurrence of a vertigo issue which has intermittently troubled him since he was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s years back.

In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his Test career could be finished. Before Carey's arrival, Khawaja had held the Australian innings together, coming to the crease at 33 for two and finessing 82 off 126 balls just a day from his 39th birthday. Partnerships of 61 with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Carey proved significant.

The Tourist's Mixed Bag Persists.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the sapping conditions, this was yet another disappointing outing from the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse somewhat continued his inconsistent form of the first two Tests, finishing with figures of 2/70 from his 13 overs, while the incoming Josh Tongue picked up one for 63 in 15 overs.

Carse looked all over the shop when handed sharing the new cherry first thing, overstepping on five occasions but still removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a sublime catch by Zak Crawley at cover. This moment summed up the day's play for both sides: brilliance mixed with some error-prone cricket.