Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Stunning Hundred Aids The Hosts Recover After Early England Test Series Charge.
After the chaos of the Perth Test and Brisbane's pink-ball palooza, a more familiar brand of the longest format broke out on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the South Australian fans, it was one to savour, with homegrown talent the wicketkeeper-batsman notched up an outstanding century on his home turf to help Australia edge the first day's play.
Not that England, trailing 2-0 while clinging on in this contest, could be too downbeat. Ben Stokes had lost what appeared a crucial toss and, though not perfect, the English attack kept toiling in sweltering heat. At stumps, the Australians had reached 326 for eight from 83 overs bowled – a total on the board but surely short of their ambitions when captain Pat Cummins won the choice first thing.
Jofra Archer Leads England's Fightback.
The standout among the tourists proved to be Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 off 16 overs constituted a strong riposte to some of criticism directed at him this past week. Here he clearly spearheaded the attack, averaging 88mph (142kmh) on the speed gun and offering his captain both accuracy and obvious threat. It was only towards the very end of play – during a single over using the second new ball – did he look a bit weary.
After bounced out Jake Weatherald first thing, Archer's first over after lunch accounted for Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's golden duck was a reminder of how this sport can bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, his weak chip to mid-wicket arriving less than a day after securing a record £1.5m deal for the upcoming IPL.
Carey's Invaluable Innings Rescues The Innings.
Carey's performance, however, was simply priceless, culminating around late afternoon as he elegantly drove Stokes through cover for three runs which prompted the crowd to rise with a roar. Fresh from that virtuoso outing with the gloves in Brisbane, his counterattacking 106 from 143 balls made sure that the mid-innings stumble of 94 for four did not become a complete collapse. At 34, Carey is a genuinely Test match player these days.
The Australian batting lineup undoubtedly left a few runs out there, however. Absent was that pronounced pace and bounce from the opening matches and in its place only a fraction of nibble if a good length was located.
There was also a bit of turn for off-spinner Will Jacks, although his control was typical of a part-timer – hence expensive figures of two for 105 from his 20 overs – and the balls that did to turn sharply will give hope to Nathan Lyon.
Emotional Backdrop and A Late Team Change.
This was always going to be a poignant occasion for the host nation, coming so soon after the horrific tragic incident in Bondi. The minute’s silence before the first ball was perfectly observed, broken only by musician a rendition performing an emotional version of the anthem True Blue.
By this stage, Australia had also been forced into a change to their announced XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith pulled out due to feeling dizzy along with sickness in the morning – an apparent recurrence of a vertigo issue that has intermittently troubled the star batter ever since he was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord's years back.
In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his international career could be over. Until the wicketkeeper's heroics, Khawaja had held the innings together, coming to the crease at 33 for two before finessing a fine 82 off 126 deliveries just a day from turning 39. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 with Carey were significant.
England's Mixed Bag Persists.
Archer aside, and despite the sapping heat, it remained yet another disappointing outing for the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse somewhat rolled over his form of the series, finishing with figures of 2/70 off his 13 overs, while the incoming Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 from 15 overs.
The Durham bowler was erratic when tasked with sharing the duty of the new cherry early on, no-balling five times yet dismissing Travis Head for just 10 runs thanks to a spectacular catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment encapsulated the day's play for both sides: brilliance interspersed with some error-prone play.
