Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Stunning Hundred Helps Australia Regroup After A Swift English Test Series Onslaught.

In the wake of that chaos from Perth as well as the Gabba's day-night spectacle, an outbreak of traditional style of Test cricket returned at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted locals, it was a day to enjoy, with their boy the wicketkeeper-batsman notched up a magnificent century at his home turf as Australia the home side edge the opening day.

Not that The touring English side, 2-0 down while clinging on in this series, could be entirely disappointed. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what seemed like a significant coin toss and, though far from at their best, the English attack continued plugging away under sweltering conditions. At stumps, Australia were 326-8 off 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely short of initial expectations after Pat Cummins got the toss in the morning.

The Pace of Archer Leads England's Resistance.

The most impressive performer among the tourists was Jofra Archer. Returning figures of three for 29 off 16 overs were a powerful riposte to some of scrutiny directed at him his way. On this day he clearly spearheaded the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kph) on the speed gun and offering his captain a combination of accuracy and clear menace. Only at the end of play – during a single over using the second new ball – did he look a bit jaded.

Having dismissed opener Jake Weatherald first thing, the fast bowler's first over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the space of three balls. Green's golden duck served as a stark reminder of how this sport can swiftly bring a player back to reality, coming from weak chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring barely 24 hours following trousering a massive multi-million dollar contract in the Indian Premier League.

The Keeper's Invaluable Contribution Rescues The Innings.

Carey's performance, however, was nothing short of invaluable, culminating around late afternoon as he elegantly drove Stokes through the covers for three and the crowd rose with a roar. Fresh from his virtuoso outing behind the stumps in Brisbane, the left-hander's aggressive 106 runs from 143 deliveries made sure that a post-lunch wobble to 94 for four did not become a complete collapse. At 34, Carey has become a genuinely Test match player these days.

The Australian batting lineup undoubtedly left a few potential runs on the field, though. Gone was the pronounced pace and bounce from the opening matches and in its place only a fraction of seam movement when the right area was hit.

The pitch also offered a bit of grip for Will Jacks, even if his consistency was that of a part-timer – resulting in expensive figures of 2/105 from 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Solemn Context with A Late Team Change.

The day's play was inevitably an emotional day for Australia, coming so shortly in the wake of a devastating tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the first ball was perfectly observed, broken only by folk singer John Williams performing an emotional version of 'True Blue'.

Earlier, the hosts were also forced into a change from their announced starting eleven. Steve Smith pulled out due to feeling dizzy and sickness in the morning – seemingly recurrence of a vertigo issue which 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 it was speculated his Test career may be over. Until the wicketkeeper's heroics, Khawaja had expertly held the innings steady, coming to the crease at 33/2 and finessing 82 from 126 deliveries a day out before his 39th birthday. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 with Carey were crucial.

The Tourist's Mixed Bag Persists.

Archer aside, and notwithstanding the energy-sapping conditions, it remained still another frustrating day from the English bowling attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his inconsistent form from the first two Tests, finishing with two for 70 from 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue picked up one for 63 from 15 overs.

The Durham bowler was erratic when handed sharing the duty of the new cherry first thing, no-balling on five occasions but still dismissing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch by Zak Crawley at cover. This moment encapsulated the day's play for both teams: brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.