Alex Carey's Sparkling Ton Helps The Baggy Greens Recover After Early English Ashes Assault.

After the pandemonium of the Perth Test as well as the Gabba's day-night palooza, a more familiar style of the longest format broke out at the Adelaide ground. For the delighted South Australian fans, the day proved one to enjoy, with their boy the wicketkeeper-batsman notched up an outstanding hundred at his home venue to help the home side edge day one.

However, England, 2-0 down while still fighting in this contest, could be too downbeat. Ben Stokes had lost what appeared a significant coin toss and, though far from perfect, the English attack continued toiling under sweltering conditions. At stumps, the Australians had reached 326-8 off 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely below initial expectations when Pat Cummins got the toss first thing.

Jofra Archer Leads The Tourist's Effort.

The standout among the tourists proved to be Jofra Archer. Returning figures of three for 29 from his 16 overs were a strong response to some of criticism directed at him this past week. Here he clearly spearheaded the bowling unit, averaging around 88mph (142kph) on the speed gun and offering his captain both accuracy together with obvious threat. It was only towards the end of the day – during a single over with the second new ball – that he appeared somewhat jaded.

After dismissed Jake Weatherald first thing, Archer's initial over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the space of three deliveries. Green's duck served as a stark reminder that cricket can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back to reality, coming from weak chip to mid-wicket arriving less than 24 hours after trousering a massive multi-million dollar deal in the IPL.

Carey's Invaluable Innings Steadies The Ship.

Alex Carey's day, in contrast, was simply priceless, culminating at late afternoon when he elegantly drove Ben Stokes through cover for three and the Adelaide faithful rose with a roar. Coming off that virtuoso outing behind the stumps at the Gabba, the left-hander's counterattacking 106 off 143 deliveries ensured that a mid-innings stumble of 94/4 failed to develop into a full-blown crisis. At 34, Carey is a serious Test match player nowadays.

Australia did leave some runs out there, though. Gone was the pronounced pace and bounce of the first two Tests and in its place only a fraction of seam movement if the right area was hit.

There was also a bit of grip for Will Jacks, even if his consistency was typical of a part-timer – hence figures of two for 105 from his 20 overs – and the balls he did get to turn sharply will give hope to Nathan Lyon.

Solemn Backdrop with Late Team Change.

This was always going to be an emotional occasion for Australia, coming so soon after the horrific tragic incident in Bondi. A minute's silence before the first ball was immaculately held, followed by musician John Williams performing an emotional rendition of True Blue.

By this stage, Australia had also been forced into an alteration from their announced starting eleven. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting dizziness and nausea in the morning – an apparent return of a vertigo issue that has intermittently affected the star batter since being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord's six years ago.

In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his international career may be over. Before Carey's heroics, Khawaja had expertly held the innings steady, coming to the crease with the score on 33/2 and crafting 82 from 126 balls just a day from turning 39. Stands worth 61 runs with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Alex Carey proved significant.

England's Frustration Persists.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the sapping heat, this was still another disappointing day for England’s attack. Brydon Carse somewhat continued his inconsistent form of the first two Tests, picking up figures of 2/70 off his 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 from 15 overs.

Carse was all over the shop when tasked with sharing the duty of the new ball early on, no-balling on five occasions yet dismissing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch from Zak Crawley at cover. This moment summed up the day's play for both sides: brilliance interspersed with periods of sloppy play.