Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Stunning Ton Helps The Baggy Greens Regroup After A Swift English Test Series Charge.

After the frenzy of the Perth Test and Brisbane's day-night palooza, a more familiar style of Test cricket was witnessed at the Adelaide ground. For the delighted locals, it was one to savour, as homegrown talent the wicketkeeper-batsman notched up a magnificent century at his home ground as Australia the home side just shade the opening day.

Not that England, 2-0 down and clinging on in this contest, could be entirely disheartened. Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like an ominous toss and, despite being far from perfect, his bowlers continued plugging away in sweltering heat. By the close of play, the Australians were 326 for eight from 83 overs – a total on the board but surely short of their ambitions after Pat Cummins won the toss in the morning.

The Pace of Archer Leads England's Resistance.

The standout among England was speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 off his 16 overs constituted a powerful response to some of criticism that came this past week. Here he visibly spearheaded the attack, clocking around 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer and offering Stokes a combination of accuracy and clear menace. It was only towards the end of play – one over with the second new ball – that he appeared somewhat weary.

After dismissed Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's first over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green in the space of three deliveries. The all-rounder's duck was a reminder that this sport can bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, coming from weak chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder arriving barely 24 hours after securing a record £1.5m contract for the upcoming Indian Premier League.

Carey's Priceless Contribution Steadies The Innings.

Alex Carey's performance, in contrast, was simply invaluable, culminating at late afternoon as he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three and the Adelaide faithful rose with a roar. Fresh from his virtuoso outing with the gloves in Brisbane, the left-hander's counterattacking 106 runs off 143 balls made sure that a post-lunch wobble of 94/4 did not become a full-blown crisis. The 34-year-old has become a serious cricketer these days.

Australia undoubtedly left some runs on the field, though. Gone was the pronounced bounce of the opening matches replaced by just a hint of nibble if a good length was hit.

The pitch also offered a bit of grip to Will Jacks, even if his control was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in figures of 2/105 off his 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will give hope to Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Context and A Late Team Change.

The day's play was always going to be a poignant occasion for the host nation, arriving so soon after the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the first ball was immaculately observed, followed by folk singer a rendition delivering an emotional rendition of 'True Blue'.

By this stage, Australia had also been forced into a change from their stated starting eleven. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting feeling dizzy and nausea first thing – an apparent recurrence of the vertigo which has periodically troubled the star batter ever since he was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s six years ago.

In came Usman Khawaja, a day after it was speculated his international career may be finished. Until the wicketkeeper's arrival, Khawaja had held the Australian innings together, walking out at 33/2 before crafting 82 off 126 balls just a day before his 39th birthday. Partnerships of 61 with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Alex Carey were significant.

England's Mixed Bag Persists.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the sapping conditions, this was still another frustrating day from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather continued his inconsistent form from the series, finishing with two for 70 from his 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue picked up one for 63 in 15 overs.

The Durham bowler looked erratic when tasked with sharing the new cherry first thing, no-balling on five occasions but still dismissing Travis Head for just 10 runs courtesy of a spectacular one-handed catch from Zak Crawley in the covers. It rather summed up the day for both teams: brilliance mixed with some sloppy cricket.