Australia's Alex Carey's Brilliant Century Helps Australia Recover After Early English Ashes Assault.

Following that chaos from the Perth Test and Brisbane's pink-ball palooza, a more familiar style regarding red-ball cricket was witnessed at Adelaide Oval. For the South Australian fans, it was a day to savour, with their boy Alex Carey delivered a magnificent hundred on his home venue to help Australia edge the opening day.

However, England, trailing 2-0 and clinging on in this contest, were too disappointed. Ben Stokes had lost what appeared a significant coin toss and, despite being not at their best, his bowlers kept plugging away in 35c conditions. By the close of play, Australia were 326-8 off 83 overs – runs on the board but surely short of their ambitions after Pat Cummins won the toss first thing.

Jofra Archer Stands Out For England's Fightback.

The standout among the tourists proved to be Jofra Archer. Returning figures of 3/29 off his 16 overs were a powerful riposte to some of criticism directed at him this past week. On this day he visibly spearheaded the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kmh) on the speedometer while providing his captain both control and clear threat. Only at the end of play – during a single over using the second new ball – did he look somewhat jaded.

After dismissed opener Jake Weatherald early on, the fast bowler's initial over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's golden duck served as a stark reminder of how cricket can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back to reality, coming from weak chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder occurring less than a day following securing a record £1.5m contract in the IPL.

Carey's Priceless Innings Steadies The Ship.

Carey's performance, in contrast, was simply priceless, culminating around late afternoon when he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three runs and the Adelaide faithful rose in a huge roar. Coming off his masterful outing with the gloves in Brisbane, his aggressive 106 runs from 143 deliveries made sure that the post-lunch wobble of 94 for four did not become a complete crisis. At 34, Carey has become a serious Test match player nowadays.

Australia undoubtedly left some runs on the field, though. Absent was that excessive pace and bounce of the opening matches and in its place just a hint of seam movement if the right area was hit.

There was also some turn for Will Jacks, even if his consistency was that of a part-timer – resulting in figures of 2/105 from his 20 overs – and the balls he did get to turn sharply will encourage Nathan Lyon.

Solemn Backdrop with Late Team Change.

The day's play was always going to be an emotional occasion for the host nation, arriving so soon in the wake of the horrific tragic incident at Bondi. A minute's silence before the first ball was immaculately observed, broken only by musician a rendition delivering a stirring rendition of the anthem 'True Blue'.

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

In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his Test career may be finished. Until the wicketkeeper's heroics, Khawaja had held the Australian innings together, walking out with the score on 33/2 and crafting a fine 82 off 126 deliveries a day out from turning 39. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Alex Carey were crucial.

The Tourist's Frustration Persists.

Archer aside, and despite the sapping heat, it remained yet another disappointing day from the English bowling attack. Seamer Brydon Carse rather rolled over his form of the first two Tests, finishing with figures of 2/70 from 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue picked up one for 63 in 15 overs.

The Durham bowler looked all over the shop when handed sharing the new cherry first thing, overstepping five times yet removing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular catch from Zak Crawley in the covers. It rather encapsulated the day for both teams: brilliance interspersed with some sloppy play.