Wicketkeeper Alex Carey's Sparkling Century Assists The Hosts Regroup After A Swift English Test Series Assault.

After that chaos of the Perth Test and Brisbane's day-night palooza, an outbreak of familiar style of the longest format broke out on the turf of the Adelaide ground. For the home crowd, the day proved a day to cherish, with homegrown talent Alex Carey delivered a sparkling hundred on his home venue as Australia Australia edge day one.

However, England, 2-0 down and clinging on in this contest, could be entirely disheartened. Skipper Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like a significant coin toss and, despite being far from perfect, his bowlers kept persevering under 35c conditions. At stumps, the Australians had reached 326 for eight off 83 overs bowled – runs on the board but surely below their expectations when captain Pat Cummins got the toss in the morning.

Jofra Archer Leads England's Resistance.

The most impressive performer for the tourists was Jofra Archer. Figures of three for 29 off 16 overs constituted a powerful riposte to the scrutiny directed at him this past week. Here he visibly led the bowling unit, clocking 88mph (142kph) with the speed gun while providing Stokes both control and clear threat. Only at the end of play – during a single over using the second new ball – did he look a bit weary.

Having bounced out Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's first over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green within just three balls. The all-rounder's golden duck served as a reminder of how this sport can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, coming from tepid chip to the mid-wicket fielder arriving barely a day following trousering a massive £1.5m deal in the Indian Premier League.

The Keeper's Invaluable Innings Rescues The Ship.

Carey's day, in contrast, was nothing short of priceless, peaking around 4.48pm as he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three which prompted the crowd rose in a huge roar. Fresh from his virtuoso display with the gloves at the Gabba, his counterattacking 106 runs off 143 deliveries made sure that a post-lunch wobble to 94/4 failed to develop into a complete crisis. The 34-year-old is a genuinely cricketer these days.

Australia undoubtedly left a few potential runs on the field, though. Gone was the pronounced pace and bounce of the first two Tests and in its place just a hint of seam movement when a good length was hit.

The pitch also offered some turn to off-spinner Will Jacks, even if his control was that of a part-timer – hence figures of 2/105 off 20 overs – and the balls that did to misbehave will encourage Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Backdrop and A Late Team Change.

The day's play was inevitably a poignant day for the host nation, arriving so shortly in the wake of the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi. The minute’s silence observed before the first ball was immaculately held, followed by folk singer a rendition performing an emotional version of 'True Blue'.

By this stage, the hosts had also been compelled to make a change to their stated XI. Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting dizziness and nausea first thing – seemingly recurrence of a vertigo issue that has periodically troubled him since being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s years back.

In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his Test career could be finished. Until Carey's heroics, the left-hander had expertly held the Australian innings together, walking out at 33 for two and finessing a fine 82 from 126 deliveries a day out before his 39th birthday. Stands of 61 with Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Alex Carey were significant.

The Tourist's Mixed Bag Persists.

Archer aside, and despite the energy-sapping conditions, this was still another disappointing day for the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse somewhat rolled over his inconsistent form of the series, finishing with figures of 2/70 from 13 overs, while the recalled Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 in 15 overs.

The Durham bowler was erratic when tasked with sharing the new ball first thing, overstepping five times but still dismissing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a sublime one-handed catch by Zak Crawley in the covers. This moment summed up the day for both sides: moments of brilliance interspersed with periods of sloppy cricket.