Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Sparkling Hundred Helps The Baggy Greens Recover After An Early England Ashes Onslaught.

After that pandemonium from Perth and Brisbane's pink-ball palooza, an outbreak of traditional brand regarding red-ball cricket was witnessed on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the delighted locals, the day proved a day to enjoy, as their boy Alex Carey delivered a sparkling hundred on his home ground to help the home side edge day one.

Not that England, trailing 2-0 and clinging on in this series, were too disheartened. Ben Stokes lost out on what seemed like a crucial coin toss and, despite being far from perfect, his bowlers kept toiling in sweltering conditions. At stumps, Australia had reached 326-8 off 83 overs bowled – a total on the board but surely short of their expectations after Pat Cummins got the choice first thing.

Jofra Archer Leads The Tourist's Resistance.

The most impressive performer for England proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 from 16 overs were a powerful answer against some of criticism directed at him this past week. On this day he visibly spearheaded the attack, averaging around 88mph (142kph) with the speed gun while providing his captain a combination of control together with obvious threat. Only at the end of the day – one over with the second new ball – did he look somewhat weary.

Having bounced out Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's first over after lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green within just three balls. Green's golden duck served as a reminder of how cricket can bring a player back to reality, coming from weak chip to the mid-wicket fielder arriving barely a day after trousering a record multi-million dollar deal in the Indian Premier League.

Carey's Invaluable Innings Steadies The Ship.

Carey's day, however, was nothing short of priceless, culminating around late afternoon when he elegantly drove Ben Stokes through cover for three and the crowd to rise with a roar. Fresh from his virtuoso display behind the stumps at the Gabba, his aggressive 106 off 143 balls ensured that the mid-innings stumble of 94 for four did not become a complete collapse. The 34-year-old has become a genuinely Test match player these days.

Australia undoubtedly left some runs on the field, however. Absent was the excessive bounce from the opening matches and in its place just a hint of seam movement if a good length was hit.

There was also a bit of turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, although his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – hence figures of 2/105 off 20 overs – but the deliveries he did get to turn sharply will give hope to Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Backdrop with A Late Team Change.

The day's play was inevitably a poignant day for Australia, coming so shortly in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi. A minute's silence observed prior to the first ball was immaculately observed, broken only by musician John Williams performing an emotional rendition of the anthem True Blue.

By this stage, Australia were also compelled to make an alteration to their announced XI. Steve Smith was withdrawn due to dizziness and sickness in the morning – seemingly recurrence of the vertigo which has intermittently troubled him ever since he was struck by Archer at Lord’s years back.

His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his international career may be finished. Before Carey's heroics, Khawaja had expertly held the innings steady, coming to the crease with the score on 33/2 before finessing a fine 82 off 126 deliveries just a day from his 39th birthday. Partnerships of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Alex Carey proved significant.

England's Mixed Bag Continues.

Archer aside, and notwithstanding the sapping conditions, this was still another disappointing day from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather rolled over his inconsistent form of the first two Tests, finishing with two for 70 from 13 overs, and the recalled Josh Tongue picked up one for 63 in 15 overs.

Carse was all over the shop when handed sharing the new cherry first thing, overstepping on five occasions yet dismissing Travis Head for just 10 runs courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. It rather encapsulated the day's play for both teams: brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy play.