🔗 Share this article Australia's Alex Carey's Brilliant Hundred Helps The Baggy Greens Recover After A Swift England Test Series Assault. After that frenzy from the Perth Test and the Gabba's pink-ball spectacle, an outbreak of familiar style of red-ball cricket broke out at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted South Australian fans, it was a day to cherish, as their boy the wicketkeeper-batsman produced a magnificent century at his home ground to help the home side edge the first day's play. However, England, 2-0 down and clinging on in this series, were entirely disappointed. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what seemed like a crucial coin toss and, though far from at their best, the English attack kept toiling under scorching conditions. At stumps, the Australians had reached 326-8 off 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely short of initial expectations when Pat Cummins got the toss first thing. Jofra Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Fightback. The standout among England was speedster Jofra Archer. Returning figures of three for 29 from 16 overs constituted a powerful response to the criticism that came his way. On this day he clearly spearheaded the attack, clocking around 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer while providing Stokes a combination of accuracy and obvious menace. It was only towards the very end of the day – one over with the second new ball – did he look somewhat jaded. Having dismissed opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's first over after lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's golden duck was a reminder of how this sport can bring even a celebrated player back to reality, coming from weak chip to mid-wicket occurring less than 24 hours following trousering a massive £1.5m deal for the upcoming Indian Premier League. Carey's Invaluable Contribution Rescues The Ship. Carey's performance, however, was simply priceless, peaking around late afternoon as he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three runs and the Adelaide faithful to rise in a huge roar. Coming off his masterful display with the gloves at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 runs from 143 deliveries made sure that a mid-innings stumble of 94 for four did not become a full-blown crisis. At 34, Carey is a serious cricketer these days. Australia did leave some potential runs out there, however. Absent was that excessive pace and bounce of the first two Tests and in its place just a hint of seam movement if the right area was located. The pitch also offered some turn for Will Jacks, although his control was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in expensive figures of two for 105 off his 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context with Late Switch. This was inevitably an emotional occasion for the host nation, arriving so shortly after the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the first ball was perfectly held, followed by musician John Williams performing a stirring rendition of 'True Blue'. By this stage, the hosts were also forced into an alteration to their announced XI. Steve Smith was withdrawn due to dizziness along with sickness first thing – an apparent return of a vertigo issue which has periodically troubled the star batter since being felled by Archer at Lord's years back. In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his Test career could be finished. Before Carey's heroics, the left-hander had held the Australian innings steady, coming to the crease with the score on 33/2 and crafting 82 off 126 balls just a day before turning 39. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Alex Carey were crucial. The Tourist's Frustration Continues. Archer aside, and notwithstanding the energy-sapping heat, this was still another disappointing outing for England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the series, picking up two for 70 from his 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 from 15 overs. The Durham bowler looked erratic when tasked with sharing the new ball early on, no-balling five times but still dismissing Travis Head for just 10 runs courtesy of a sublime catch by Zak Crawley at cover. This moment summed up the day's play for both teams: brilliance interspersed with periods of sloppy play.
After that frenzy from the Perth Test and the Gabba's pink-ball spectacle, an outbreak of familiar style of red-ball cricket broke out at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted South Australian fans, it was a day to cherish, as their boy the wicketkeeper-batsman produced a magnificent century at his home ground to help the home side edge the first day's play. However, England, 2-0 down and clinging on in this series, were entirely disappointed. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what seemed like a crucial coin toss and, though far from at their best, the English attack kept toiling under scorching conditions. At stumps, the Australians had reached 326-8 off 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely short of initial expectations when Pat Cummins got the toss first thing. Jofra Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Fightback. The standout among England was speedster Jofra Archer. Returning figures of three for 29 from 16 overs constituted a powerful response to the criticism that came his way. On this day he clearly spearheaded the attack, clocking around 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer while providing Stokes a combination of accuracy and obvious menace. It was only towards the very end of the day – one over with the second new ball – did he look somewhat jaded. Having dismissed opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's first over after lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's golden duck was a reminder of how this sport can bring even a celebrated player back to reality, coming from weak chip to mid-wicket occurring less than 24 hours following trousering a massive £1.5m deal for the upcoming Indian Premier League. Carey's Invaluable Contribution Rescues The Ship. Carey's performance, however, was simply priceless, peaking around late afternoon as he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three runs and the Adelaide faithful to rise in a huge roar. Coming off his masterful display with the gloves at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 runs from 143 deliveries made sure that a mid-innings stumble of 94 for four did not become a full-blown crisis. At 34, Carey is a serious cricketer these days. Australia did leave some potential runs out there, however. Absent was that excessive pace and bounce of the first two Tests and in its place just a hint of seam movement if the right area was located. The pitch also offered some turn for Will Jacks, although his control was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in expensive figures of two for 105 off his 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context with Late Switch. This was inevitably an emotional occasion for the host nation, arriving so shortly after the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the first ball was perfectly held, followed by musician John Williams performing a stirring rendition of 'True Blue'. By this stage, the hosts were also forced into an alteration to their announced XI. Steve Smith was withdrawn due to dizziness along with sickness first thing – an apparent return of a vertigo issue which has periodically troubled the star batter since being felled by Archer at Lord's years back. In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his Test career could be finished. Before Carey's heroics, the left-hander had held the Australian innings steady, coming to the crease with the score on 33/2 and crafting 82 off 126 balls just a day before turning 39. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Alex Carey were crucial. The Tourist's Frustration Continues. Archer aside, and notwithstanding the energy-sapping heat, this was still another disappointing outing for England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the series, picking up two for 70 from his 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 from 15 overs. The Durham bowler looked erratic when tasked with sharing the new ball early on, no-balling five times but still dismissing Travis Head for just 10 runs courtesy of a sublime catch by Zak Crawley at cover. This moment summed up the day's play for both teams: brilliance interspersed with periods of sloppy play.