Alex Carey's Sparkling Ton Aids The Hosts Recover After Early English Test Series Onslaught.

After that chaos of the Perth Test as well as the Gabba's pink-ball spectacle, a more traditional brand of the longest format broke out on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the locals, the day proved one to cherish, with homegrown talent Alex Carey produced a magnificent hundred on his home venue to help Australia edge the first day's play.

However, England, trailing 2-0 and clinging on in the contest, could be too downbeat. Ben Stokes had lost what appeared a significant coin toss and, despite being not at their best, his bowlers kept toiling in 35c conditions. At stumps, the Australians had reached 326 for eight off 83 overs bowled – runs on the board yet likely short of initial expectations when captain Pat Cummins won the choice in the morning.

Jofra Archer Stands Out For The Tourist's Resistance.

The most impressive performer for the tourists proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Returning figures of three for 29 from 16 overs constituted a powerful riposte against the criticism directed at him his way. Here he visibly spearheaded the bowling unit, averaging 88mph (142kmh) with the speed gun and offering Stokes a combination of control and clear threat. It was only towards the very end of play – during a single over using the second new ball – that he appeared a bit jaded.

After bounced out opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's initial over post-lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. The all-rounder's duck was a reminder of how cricket can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back to reality, his tepid chip shot to mid-wicket arriving less than a day after trousering a record multi-million dollar contract for the upcoming IPL.

Carey's Priceless Innings Steadies The Innings.

Alex Carey's day, however, was simply invaluable, culminating around late afternoon as he drove Stokes through the covers for three and the crowd rose with a roar. Coming off that masterful display behind the stumps at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 runs off 143 deliveries ensured that a mid-innings stumble of 94/4 did not become a complete collapse. The 34-year-old has become a genuinely Test match player nowadays.

Australia did leave some potential runs out there, however. Gone was that pronounced pace and bounce of the opening matches and in its place only a fraction of seam movement if a good length was located.

There was also some turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, although his consistency was typical of a part-timer – resulting in figures of 2/105 from 20 overs – and the balls that did to turn sharply will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Context with Late Switch.

This was inevitably a poignant occasion for the host nation, arriving so soon after a devastating terrorist attack in Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the first ball was perfectly observed, followed by folk singer John Williams performing a stirring rendition of True Blue.

Earlier, Australia were also forced into an alteration from their stated XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn due to feeling dizzy and nausea in the morning – an apparent recurrence of a vertigo issue that has periodically troubled the star batter ever since being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s years back.

His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, a day after many felt his Test career could be finished. Before Carey's arrival, Khawaja had held the innings together, walking out at 33/2 before crafting a fine 82 off 126 deliveries a day out from turning 39. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 with Carey were significant.

England's Frustration Persists.

Archer aside, and despite the energy-sapping conditions, it remained still another disappointing day from the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse rather continued his form from the series, picking up two for 70 off his 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue claimed 1/63 from 15 overs.

Carse was all over the shop when tasked with sharing the new cherry first thing, overstepping five times yet removing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a sublime one-handed catch from Zak Crawley at cover. It rather encapsulated the day's play for both sides: moments of brilliance interspersed with periods of error-prone cricket.