Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Stunning Hundred Assists The Baggy Greens Recover From A Swift English Test Series Onslaught.

After the pandemonium of the Perth Test and Brisbane's day-night palooza, an outbreak of familiar style of red-ball cricket returned on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the delighted home crowd, it was a day to savour, with their boy Alex Carey delivered a sparkling hundred on his home venue to help Australia edge the opening day.

Not that The touring English side, 2-0 down while clinging on in this contest, were too downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what seemed like a significant toss and, though far from at their best, the English attack continued persevering under sweltering heat. At stumps, the Australians had reached 326-8 from 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely short of their expectations when captain Pat Cummins won the choice first thing.

The Pace of Archer Leads England's Fightback.

The most impressive performer for the tourists was speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 off 16 overs constituted a powerful answer to the criticism that came this past week. On this day he visibly spearheaded the bowling unit, clocking around 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer and offering his captain both accuracy and clear threat. Only at the end of play – one over with the fresh cherry – that he appeared a bit weary.

Having bounced out opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's first over after lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's golden duck served as a reminder of how this sport can swiftly bring a player back to reality, his tepid chip to the mid-wicket fielder arriving barely a day after securing a massive £1.5m deal in the Indian Premier League.

The Keeper's Invaluable Innings Rescues The Innings.

Alex Carey's day, in contrast, was simply priceless, culminating at 4.48pm as he elegantly drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three which prompted the Adelaide faithful rose in a huge roar. Fresh from that virtuoso display with the gloves in Brisbane, his aggressive 106 runs from 143 balls made sure that a mid-innings stumble of 94/4 failed to develop into a complete crisis. The 34-year-old is a serious cricketer these days.

The Australian batting lineup undoubtedly left some potential runs on the field, though. Absent was the pronounced bounce from the opening matches and in its place only a fraction of seam movement when a good length was hit.

There was also a bit of turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, although his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – hence expensive figures of 2/105 off 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to turn sharply will give hope to Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Solemn Backdrop with A Late Team Change.

The day's play was always going to be a poignant occasion for Australia, arriving so shortly in the wake of a devastating tragic incident at Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the start of play was immaculately held, broken only by musician a rendition performing an emotional rendition of True Blue.

Earlier, the hosts were also compelled to make a change from their stated XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith pulled out after reporting feeling dizzy and nausea first thing – seemingly return of a vertigo issue which has periodically troubled him since being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord's six years ago.

In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his Test career could be over. Until Carey's heroics, Khawaja had held the Australian innings steady, coming to the crease at 33/2 and finessing 82 from 126 deliveries just a day before turning 39. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne and 91 with Alex Carey proved crucial.

The Tourist's Mixed Bag Continues.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the sapping heat, this was still another disappointing outing from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the series, finishing with two for 70 from his 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 from 15 overs.

The Durham bowler was erratic when tasked with sharing the duty of the new ball first thing, no-balling on five occasions yet removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a sublime catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment encapsulated the day's play for both sides: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.