Australia's Alex Carey's Brilliant Hundred Helps The Baggy Greens Bounce Back After Early England Test Series Onslaught.

After the frenzy from Perth as well as the Gabba's day-night palooza, a more traditional style of Test cricket was witnessed at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted South Australian fans, it was a day to savour, as their boy Alex Carey produced a magnificent hundred at his home venue as Australia Australia just shade day one.

Not that The touring English side, 2-0 down while clinging on in the contest, could be too downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what appeared a significant toss and, despite being far from perfect, his bowlers kept toiling in 35c heat. By the close of play, Australia had reached 326 for eight off 83 overs bowled – a total on the board but surely short of their expectations when captain Pat Cummins got the toss in the morning.

Jofra Archer Leads The Tourist's Effort.

The most impressive performer for the tourists proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Returning figures of 3/29 off 16 overs were a powerful answer against some of criticism directed at him his way. Here he clearly spearheaded the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kph) with the speed gun while providing his captain a combination of control and clear threat. Only at the end of play – during a single over with the fresh cherry – did he look somewhat jaded.

Having dismissed opener Jake Weatherald first thing, the fast bowler's first over post-lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the space of three balls. The all-rounder's golden duck was a stark reminder that this sport can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, his tepid chip to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than 24 hours following securing a massive £1.5m deal for the upcoming IPL.

Carey's Invaluable Innings Steadies The Innings.

Alex Carey's day, however, was simply priceless, culminating at 4.48pm as he elegantly drove Stokes through cover for three runs which prompted the Adelaide faithful rose with a roar. Coming off that virtuoso display with the gloves in Brisbane, the left-hander's counterattacking 106 off 143 deliveries made sure that a post-lunch wobble to 94/4 failed to develop into a complete collapse. The 34-year-old has become a serious Test match player nowadays.

The Australian batting lineup undoubtedly left some runs on the field, however. Gone was that excessive bounce from the first two Tests and in its place only a fraction of nibble if the right area was hit.

There was also a bit of grip for off-spinner Will Jacks, even if his control was that of a part-time spinner – resulting in expensive figures of 2/105 off 20 overs – and the balls that did to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Solemn Context with A Late Team Change.

This was always going to be a poignant day for Australia, arriving so soon after the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi. A minute's silence observed before the first ball was perfectly observed, broken only by musician John Williams delivering a stirring rendition of the anthem 'True Blue'.

Earlier, Australia were also compelled to make an alteration from their stated starting eleven. Steve Smith pulled out after reporting feeling dizzy along with sickness first thing – seemingly recurrence of a vertigo issue which has periodically troubled him since he was struck 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 the wicketkeeper's heroics, Khawaja had expertly held the innings together, coming to the crease with the score on 33/2 and finessing a fine 82 from 126 balls a day out before turning 39. Stands of 61 with Labuschagne plus another of 91 with Alex Carey proved significant.

England's Mixed Bag Continues.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the energy-sapping conditions, it remained still another disappointing day for England’s attack. Brydon Carse somewhat rolled over his inconsistent form from the first two Tests, picking up figures of 2/70 off his 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue claimed 1/63 in 15 overs.

Carse was all over the shop when handed sharing the duty of the new cherry first thing, overstepping five times but still removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a sublime one-handed catch by Zak Crawley at cover. It rather summed up the day's play for both teams: moments of brilliance interspersed with some sloppy cricket.