🔗 Share this article Australia's Alex Carey's Stunning Century Aids The Baggy Greens Bounce Back From A Swift English Ashes Onslaught. After the frenzy from Perth and Brisbane's day-night spectacle, a more familiar brand of red-ball cricket was witnessed at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted South Australian fans, the day proved one to savour, as local hero Alex Carey delivered a magnificent century on his home venue as Australia the home side edge the first day's play. However, England, 2-0 down while still fighting in the series, could be too disheartened. Ben Stokes had lost what appeared an ominous toss and, despite being far from perfect, the English attack kept plugging away in 35c conditions. At stumps, Australia had reached 326-8 from 83 overs – runs on the board but surely below initial expectations after captain Pat Cummins got the toss in the morning. The Pace of Archer Leads The Tourist's Resistance. The most impressive performer for the tourists proved to be Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 from his 16 overs constituted a powerful answer against some of criticism that came his way. Here he clearly led the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kmh) with the speedometer and offering his captain a combination of accuracy together with obvious threat. Only at the end of the day – one over with the fresh cherry – did he look somewhat weary. After dismissed Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's first over after lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. The all-rounder's duck served as a reminder that this sport can bring a player back down to earth, his weak chip to the mid-wicket fielder arriving less than a day following trousering a massive multi-million dollar contract for the upcoming IPL. The Keeper's Priceless Contribution Rescues The Ship. Alex Carey's day, however, was nothing short of invaluable, peaking at late afternoon when he drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs and the crowd rose in a huge roar. Fresh from his virtuoso display behind the stumps at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 from 143 deliveries made sure that a mid-innings stumble to 94/4 did not become a full-blown crisis. The 34-year-old is a serious Test match player these days. The Australian batting lineup did leave a few potential runs out there, though. Gone was that pronounced pace and bounce of the opening matches replaced by just a hint of nibble when a good length was located. The pitch also offered a bit of turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, although his control was typical of a part-timer – hence expensive figures of 2/105 off 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context with Late Switch. The day's play was inevitably an emotional day for the host nation, arriving so shortly in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi. The minute’s silence before the start of play was immaculately observed, broken only by musician John Williams performing an emotional version of the anthem True Blue. By this stage, Australia had also been compelled to make a change to their stated XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith pulled out due to dizziness along with sickness first thing – seemingly return of the vertigo which has periodically troubled him ever since being felled by Archer at Lord's years back. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his international career could be finished. Before Carey's heroics, Khawaja had held the Australian innings steady, walking out at 33 for two before finessing 82 from 126 balls a day out from turning 39. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne and 91 with Alex Carey proved crucial. The Tourist's Mixed Bag Persists. Archer aside, and despite the sapping heat, this was still another frustrating outing from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse somewhat rolled over his form of the series, picking up figures of 2/70 from his 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 from 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when handed sharing the new ball early on, overstepping five times but still removing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a sublime catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment encapsulated the day for both teams: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of error-prone play.
After the frenzy from Perth and Brisbane's day-night spectacle, a more familiar brand of red-ball cricket was witnessed at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted South Australian fans, the day proved one to savour, as local hero Alex Carey delivered a magnificent century on his home venue as Australia the home side edge the first day's play. However, England, 2-0 down while still fighting in the series, could be too disheartened. Ben Stokes had lost what appeared an ominous toss and, despite being far from perfect, the English attack kept plugging away in 35c conditions. At stumps, Australia had reached 326-8 from 83 overs – runs on the board but surely below initial expectations after captain Pat Cummins got the toss in the morning. The Pace of Archer Leads The Tourist's Resistance. The most impressive performer for the tourists proved to be Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 from his 16 overs constituted a powerful answer against some of criticism that came his way. Here he clearly led the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kmh) with the speedometer and offering his captain a combination of accuracy together with obvious threat. Only at the end of the day – one over with the fresh cherry – did he look somewhat weary. After dismissed Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's first over after lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. The all-rounder's duck served as a reminder that this sport can bring a player back down to earth, his weak chip to the mid-wicket fielder arriving less than a day following trousering a massive multi-million dollar contract for the upcoming IPL. The Keeper's Priceless Contribution Rescues The Ship. Alex Carey's day, however, was nothing short of invaluable, peaking at late afternoon when he drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs and the crowd rose in a huge roar. Fresh from his virtuoso display behind the stumps at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 from 143 deliveries made sure that a mid-innings stumble to 94/4 did not become a full-blown crisis. The 34-year-old is a serious Test match player these days. The Australian batting lineup did leave a few potential runs out there, though. Gone was that pronounced pace and bounce of the opening matches replaced by just a hint of nibble when a good length was located. The pitch also offered a bit of turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, although his control was typical of a part-timer – hence expensive figures of 2/105 off 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context with Late Switch. The day's play was inevitably an emotional day for the host nation, arriving so shortly in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi. The minute’s silence before the start of play was immaculately observed, broken only by musician John Williams performing an emotional version of the anthem True Blue. By this stage, Australia had also been compelled to make a change to their stated XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith pulled out due to dizziness along with sickness first thing – seemingly return of the vertigo which has periodically troubled him ever since being felled by Archer at Lord's years back. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his international career could be finished. Before Carey's heroics, Khawaja had held the Australian innings steady, walking out at 33 for two before finessing 82 from 126 balls a day out from turning 39. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne and 91 with Alex Carey proved crucial. The Tourist's Mixed Bag Persists. Archer aside, and despite the sapping heat, this was still another frustrating outing from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse somewhat rolled over his form of the series, picking up figures of 2/70 from his 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 from 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when handed sharing the new ball early on, overstepping five times but still removing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a sublime catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment encapsulated the day for both teams: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of error-prone play.