🔗 Share this article Alex Carey's Stunning Century Helps Australia Recover From A Swift England Test Series Charge. After the frenzy of Perth and the Gabba's day-night spectacle, an outbreak of traditional style of the longest format returned on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the delighted home crowd, it was one to enjoy, as local hero the wicketkeeper-batsman delivered a sparkling hundred on his home turf to help Australia edge day one. However, The touring English side, 2-0 down and clinging on in the series, could be too disheartened. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like a significant toss and, though not at their best, the English attack continued plugging away in 35c heat. At stumps, the Australians were 326-8 off 83 overs – a total on the board yet likely short of their ambitions when Pat Cummins won the choice first thing. Jofra Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Fightback. The standout among the tourists proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 off his 16 overs constituted a strong riposte to some of scrutiny that came this past week. On this day he clearly led the attack, averaging around 88mph (142kph) on the speedometer while providing Stokes a combination of accuracy and obvious threat. It was only towards the very end of play – one over using the second new ball – that he appeared somewhat weary. Having dismissed opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's initial over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green in the space of three balls. The all-rounder's duck served as a stark reminder that cricket can bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, his tepid chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day after trousering a massive multi-million dollar deal for the upcoming IPL. Carey's Invaluable Innings Steadies The Ship. Carey's performance, in contrast, was nothing short of invaluable, peaking at 4.48pm as he drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs which prompted the crowd rose in a huge roar. Fresh from his masterful display behind the stumps at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 runs off 143 balls made sure that a mid-innings stumble to 94 for four did not become a full-blown crisis. The 34-year-old is a genuinely Test match player nowadays. Australia undoubtedly left a few potential runs out there, however. Gone was the excessive bounce from the opening matches replaced by just a hint of nibble when a good length was hit. The pitch also offered some grip to Will Jacks, even if his control was that of a part-time spinner – hence expensive figures of 2/105 off his 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context and A Late Team Change. This was inevitably a poignant occasion for Australia, arriving so shortly after the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the first ball was perfectly observed, followed by folk singer a rendition performing an emotional rendition of True Blue. By this stage, Australia were also compelled to make an alteration from their stated XI. Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting feeling dizzy and sickness first thing – seemingly return of the vertigo that has intermittently affected him since being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s six years ago. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, a day after many felt his Test career could be over. Until Carey's heroics, the left-hander had held the Australian innings steady, walking out at 33 for two and finessing 82 off 126 deliveries a day out from his 39th birthday. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Carey were significant. England's Frustration Continues. Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the energy-sapping heat, this was yet another frustrating outing from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the first two Tests, finishing with figures of 2/70 from 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 from 15 overs. The Durham bowler was all over the shop when handed sharing the duty of the new cherry first thing, overstepping on five occasions yet dismissing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a sublime one-handed catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment encapsulated the day for both sides: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.
After the frenzy of Perth and the Gabba's day-night spectacle, an outbreak of traditional style of the longest format returned on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the delighted home crowd, it was one to enjoy, as local hero the wicketkeeper-batsman delivered a sparkling hundred on his home turf to help Australia edge day one. However, The touring English side, 2-0 down and clinging on in the series, could be too disheartened. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like a significant toss and, though not at their best, the English attack continued plugging away in 35c heat. At stumps, the Australians were 326-8 off 83 overs – a total on the board yet likely short of their ambitions when Pat Cummins won the choice first thing. Jofra Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Fightback. The standout among the tourists proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 off his 16 overs constituted a strong riposte to some of scrutiny that came this past week. On this day he clearly led the attack, averaging around 88mph (142kph) on the speedometer while providing Stokes a combination of accuracy and obvious threat. It was only towards the very end of play – one over using the second new ball – that he appeared somewhat weary. Having dismissed opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's initial over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green in the space of three balls. The all-rounder's duck served as a stark reminder that cricket can bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, his tepid chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day after trousering a massive multi-million dollar deal for the upcoming IPL. Carey's Invaluable Innings Steadies The Ship. Carey's performance, in contrast, was nothing short of invaluable, peaking at 4.48pm as he drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs which prompted the crowd rose in a huge roar. Fresh from his masterful display behind the stumps at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 runs off 143 balls made sure that a mid-innings stumble to 94 for four did not become a full-blown crisis. The 34-year-old is a genuinely Test match player nowadays. Australia undoubtedly left a few potential runs out there, however. Gone was the excessive bounce from the opening matches replaced by just a hint of nibble when a good length was hit. The pitch also offered some grip to Will Jacks, even if his control was that of a part-time spinner – hence expensive figures of 2/105 off his 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context and A Late Team Change. This was inevitably a poignant occasion for Australia, arriving so shortly after the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the first ball was perfectly observed, followed by folk singer a rendition performing an emotional rendition of True Blue. By this stage, Australia were also compelled to make an alteration from their stated XI. Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting feeling dizzy and sickness first thing – seemingly return of the vertigo that has intermittently affected him since being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s six years ago. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, a day after many felt his Test career could be over. Until Carey's heroics, the left-hander had held the Australian innings steady, walking out at 33 for two and finessing 82 off 126 deliveries a day out from his 39th birthday. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Carey were significant. England's Frustration Continues. Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the energy-sapping heat, this was yet another frustrating outing from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the first two Tests, finishing with figures of 2/70 from 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 from 15 overs. The Durham bowler was all over the shop when handed sharing the duty of the new cherry first thing, overstepping on five occasions yet dismissing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a sublime one-handed catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment encapsulated the day for both sides: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.