🔗 Share this article Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Brilliant Century Assists The Hosts Recover After Early England Test Series Charge. In the wake of the pandemonium of Perth as well as Brisbane's day-night spectacle, a more traditional brand of Test cricket broke out at Adelaide Oval. For the South Australian fans, the day proved a day to enjoy, with their boy Alex Carey produced a magnificent hundred on his home venue as Australia Australia just shade the opening day. Not that England, trailing 2-0 and still fighting in this contest, were entirely downbeat. Ben Stokes lost out on what appeared an ominous coin toss and, despite being not at their best, his bowlers continued persevering in 35c conditions. At stumps, Australia were 326 for eight from 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely short of their expectations when Pat Cummins won the choice first thing. The Pace of Archer Leads The Tourist's Resistance. The standout for the tourists proved to be Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 off his 16 overs were a powerful answer to the scrutiny that came this past week. Here he visibly led the attack, clocking around 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer and offering his captain both control together with obvious menace. Only at the very end of play – one over with the second new ball – did he look somewhat jaded. Having dismissed Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's first over post-lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's duck was a stark reminder that cricket can bring a player back down to earth, coming from weak chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day after trousering a record multi-million dollar contract for the upcoming Indian Premier League. The Keeper's Priceless Contribution Rescues The Innings. Alex Carey's day, however, was simply priceless, culminating around late afternoon when he elegantly drove Stokes through the covers for three which prompted the crowd rose in a huge roar. Coming off that virtuoso display with the gloves in Brisbane, his aggressive 106 runs from 143 deliveries ensured that the post-lunch wobble of 94/4 did not become a complete collapse. At 34, Carey has become a serious cricketer nowadays. Australia did leave some runs on the field, though. Absent was the pronounced bounce from the first two Tests and in its place only a fraction of seam movement if the right area was located. The pitch also offered a bit of turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, even if his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in figures of 2/105 from his 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will give hope to Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context and A Late Team Change. This was always going to be an emotional day for the host nation, arriving so shortly after a devastating terrorist attack in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the start of play was perfectly held, broken only by folk singer a rendition delivering an emotional rendition of True Blue. By this stage, the hosts were also compelled to make an alteration from their announced XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith pulled out due to feeling dizzy and nausea in the morning – seemingly return of a vertigo issue that has intermittently troubled him ever since being felled by Archer at Lord’s six years ago. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his Test career may be finished. Before Carey's arrival, the left-hander had expertly held the innings together, walking out with the score on 33 for two and crafting a fine 82 off 126 deliveries just a day from his 39th birthday. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 with Alex Carey were significant. England's Mixed Bag Continues. Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the energy-sapping heat, this was yet another disappointing day for England’s attack. Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the first two Tests, picking up two for 70 off 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 from 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when tasked with sharing the new cherry early on, overstepping on five occasions but still removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch from Zak Crawley at cover. This moment encapsulated the day's play for both teams: brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.
In the wake of the pandemonium of Perth as well as Brisbane's day-night spectacle, a more traditional brand of Test cricket broke out at Adelaide Oval. For the South Australian fans, the day proved a day to enjoy, with their boy Alex Carey produced a magnificent hundred on his home venue as Australia Australia just shade the opening day. Not that England, trailing 2-0 and still fighting in this contest, were entirely downbeat. Ben Stokes lost out on what appeared an ominous coin toss and, despite being not at their best, his bowlers continued persevering in 35c conditions. At stumps, Australia were 326 for eight from 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely short of their expectations when Pat Cummins won the choice first thing. The Pace of Archer Leads The Tourist's Resistance. The standout for the tourists proved to be Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 off his 16 overs were a powerful answer to the scrutiny that came this past week. Here he visibly led the attack, clocking around 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer and offering his captain both control together with obvious menace. Only at the very end of play – one over with the second new ball – did he look somewhat jaded. Having dismissed Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's first over post-lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's duck was a stark reminder that cricket can bring a player back down to earth, coming from weak chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day after trousering a record multi-million dollar contract for the upcoming Indian Premier League. The Keeper's Priceless Contribution Rescues The Innings. Alex Carey's day, however, was simply priceless, culminating around late afternoon when he elegantly drove Stokes through the covers for three which prompted the crowd rose in a huge roar. Coming off that virtuoso display with the gloves in Brisbane, his aggressive 106 runs from 143 deliveries ensured that the post-lunch wobble of 94/4 did not become a complete collapse. At 34, Carey has become a serious cricketer nowadays. Australia did leave some runs on the field, though. Absent was the pronounced bounce from the first two Tests and in its place only a fraction of seam movement if the right area was located. The pitch also offered a bit of turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, even if his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in figures of 2/105 from his 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will give hope to Nathan Lyon. Emotional Context and A Late Team Change. This was always going to be an emotional day for the host nation, arriving so shortly after a devastating terrorist attack in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the start of play was perfectly held, broken only by folk singer a rendition delivering an emotional rendition of True Blue. By this stage, the hosts were also compelled to make an alteration from their announced XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith pulled out due to feeling dizzy and nausea in the morning – seemingly return of a vertigo issue that has intermittently troubled him ever since being felled by Archer at Lord’s six years ago. His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his Test career may be finished. Before Carey's arrival, the left-hander had expertly held the innings together, walking out with the score on 33 for two and crafting a fine 82 off 126 deliveries just a day from his 39th birthday. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 with Alex Carey were significant. England's Mixed Bag Continues. Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the energy-sapping heat, this was yet another disappointing day for England’s attack. Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the first two Tests, picking up two for 70 off 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 from 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when tasked with sharing the new cherry early on, overstepping on five occasions but still removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch from Zak Crawley at cover. This moment encapsulated the day's play for both teams: brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.