🔗 Share this article Australia's Alex Carey's Sparkling Ton Aids Australia Bounce Back From Early English Ashes Onslaught. In the wake of the frenzy from Perth and the Gabba's day-night palooza, a more familiar style of Test cricket returned at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted home crowd, it was a day to enjoy, as their boy Alex Carey notched up a magnificent hundred on his home turf as Australia Australia just shade day one. Not that The touring English side, 2-0 down while still fighting in this series, could be entirely downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what appeared a significant coin toss and, despite being far from perfect, the English attack kept persevering under scorching conditions. At stumps, the Australians were 326-8 from 83 overs – runs on the board yet likely short of their expectations when captain Pat Cummins got the choice in the morning. The Pace of Archer Stands Out For England's Resistance. The standout for England was speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 off his 16 overs were a powerful response to some of criticism directed at him this past week. Here he visibly spearheaded the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kph) with the speed gun while providing his captain a combination of control and obvious menace. Only at the very end of play – one over using the second new ball – did he look somewhat weary. Having bounced out Jake Weatherald first thing, the fast bowler's first over post-lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's golden duck served as a stark reminder of how this sport can bring a player back down to earth, coming from tepid chip shot to mid-wicket arriving barely 24 hours following trousering a record multi-million dollar deal for the upcoming Indian Premier League. Carey's Priceless Innings Rescues The Ship. Alex Carey's performance, however, was simply invaluable, culminating around late afternoon when he drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs which prompted the crowd to rise in a huge roar. Fresh from his virtuoso display behind the stumps in Brisbane, the left-hander's aggressive 106 off 143 balls made sure that a post-lunch wobble of 94 for four failed to develop into a full-blown collapse. At 34, Carey has become a serious Test match player nowadays. Australia did leave some potential runs on the field, though. Absent was the excessive pace and bounce from the opening matches and in its place just a hint of nibble if a good length was hit. The pitch also offered some grip to Will Jacks, even if his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in figures of two for 105 off 20 overs – and the balls that did to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Solemn Backdrop with A Late Switch. The day's play was inevitably a poignant occasion for Australia, coming so shortly after a devastating tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed prior to the start of play was immaculately observed, broken only by folk singer John Williams delivering a stirring version of 'True Blue'. By this stage, Australia had also been compelled to make an alteration to their stated starting eleven. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting feeling dizzy and sickness first thing – seemingly return of the vertigo that has intermittently affected him ever since he was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s years back. In came Usman Khawaja, a day after many felt his Test career could be finished. Until Carey's heroics, Khawaja had held the innings steady, walking out at 33 for two before finessing a fine 82 from 126 balls a day out from turning 39. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Labuschagne and 91 runs with Alex Carey were crucial. The Tourist's Frustration Persists. Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the energy-sapping conditions, it remained yet another disappointing day for the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse somewhat rolled over his inconsistent form of the series, finishing with two for 70 from 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue claimed 1/63 in 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when tasked with sharing the new cherry first thing, no-balling five times yet dismissing Travis Head for just 10 runs thanks to a spectacular one-handed catch from Zak Crawley at cover. It rather encapsulated the day's play for both teams: brilliance interspersed with some sloppy play.
In the wake of the frenzy from Perth and the Gabba's day-night palooza, a more familiar style of Test cricket returned at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted home crowd, it was a day to enjoy, as their boy Alex Carey notched up a magnificent hundred on his home turf as Australia Australia just shade day one. Not that The touring English side, 2-0 down while still fighting in this series, could be entirely downbeat. Skipper Ben Stokes lost out on what appeared a significant coin toss and, despite being far from perfect, the English attack kept persevering under scorching conditions. At stumps, the Australians were 326-8 from 83 overs – runs on the board yet likely short of their expectations when captain Pat Cummins got the choice in the morning. The Pace of Archer Stands Out For England's Resistance. The standout for England was speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 off his 16 overs were a powerful response to some of criticism directed at him this past week. Here he visibly spearheaded the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kph) with the speed gun while providing his captain a combination of control and obvious menace. Only at the very end of play – one over using the second new ball – did he look somewhat weary. Having bounced out Jake Weatherald first thing, the fast bowler's first over post-lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's golden duck served as a stark reminder of how this sport can bring a player back down to earth, coming from tepid chip shot to mid-wicket arriving barely 24 hours following trousering a record multi-million dollar deal for the upcoming Indian Premier League. Carey's Priceless Innings Rescues The Ship. Alex Carey's performance, however, was simply invaluable, culminating around late afternoon when he drove Ben Stokes through the covers for three runs which prompted the crowd to rise in a huge roar. Fresh from his virtuoso display behind the stumps in Brisbane, the left-hander's aggressive 106 off 143 balls made sure that a post-lunch wobble of 94 for four failed to develop into a full-blown collapse. At 34, Carey has become a serious Test match player nowadays. Australia did leave some potential runs on the field, though. Absent was the excessive pace and bounce from the opening matches and in its place just a hint of nibble if a good length was hit. The pitch also offered some grip to Will Jacks, even if his consistency was typical of a part-time spinner – resulting in figures of two for 105 off 20 overs – and the balls that did to misbehave will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon. Solemn Backdrop with A Late Switch. The day's play was inevitably a poignant occasion for Australia, coming so shortly after a devastating tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed prior to the start of play was immaculately observed, broken only by folk singer John Williams delivering a stirring version of 'True Blue'. By this stage, Australia had also been compelled to make an alteration to their stated starting eleven. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting feeling dizzy and sickness first thing – seemingly return of the vertigo that has intermittently affected him ever since he was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s years back. In came Usman Khawaja, a day after many felt his Test career could be finished. Until Carey's heroics, Khawaja had held the innings steady, walking out at 33 for two before finessing a fine 82 from 126 balls a day out from turning 39. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Labuschagne and 91 runs with Alex Carey were crucial. The Tourist's Frustration Persists. Aside from Archer's efforts, and notwithstanding the energy-sapping conditions, it remained yet another disappointing day for the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse somewhat rolled over his inconsistent form of the series, finishing with two for 70 from 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue claimed 1/63 in 15 overs. Carse looked all over the shop when tasked with sharing the new cherry first thing, no-balling five times yet dismissing Travis Head for just 10 runs thanks to a spectacular one-handed catch from Zak Crawley at cover. It rather encapsulated the day's play for both teams: brilliance interspersed with some sloppy play.