Alex Carey's Brilliant Ton Helps Australia Bounce Back From Early England Ashes Assault.

In the wake of that frenzy of the Perth Test as well as the Gabba's pink-ball palooza, a more traditional brand of red-ball cricket broke out on the turf of Adelaide Oval. For the locals, the day proved one to savour, as homegrown talent Alex Carey produced a sparkling hundred on his home venue as Australia the home side just shade the first day's play.

Not that England, 2-0 down and clinging on in the series, could be entirely disappointed. Ben Stokes had lost what seemed like an ominous coin toss and, despite being not perfect, the English attack continued toiling in 35c heat. By the close of play, Australia had reached 326-8 off 83 overs – a total on the board yet likely below their ambitions after captain Pat Cummins won the toss in the morning.

The Pace of Archer Stands Out For England's Resistance.

The most impressive performer for England proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Figures of 3/29 off 16 overs constituted a powerful response against the scrutiny that came his way. On this day he visibly spearheaded the bowling unit, clocking around 88mph (142kph) on the speed gun while providing his captain both control together with obvious menace. Only at the very end of play – one over using the second new ball – did he look a bit weary.

Having bounced out opener Jake Weatherald early on, Archer's initial over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green within just three deliveries. Green's golden duck served as a stark reminder that cricket can bring even a celebrated player back to reality, his weak chip shot to the mid-wicket fielder arriving less than a day following trousering a record multi-million dollar contract in the Indian Premier League.

The Keeper's Invaluable Innings Steadies The Ship.

Alex Carey's performance, however, was nothing short of priceless, culminating around 4.48pm when he elegantly drove Ben Stokes through cover for three which prompted the Adelaide faithful rose in a huge roar. Fresh from that masterful outing with the gloves at the Gabba, the left-hander's counterattacking 106 runs off 143 balls ensured that the mid-innings stumble to 94/4 failed to develop into a full-blown collapse. The 34-year-old has become a genuinely cricketer these days.

Australia undoubtedly left a few runs out there, however. Gone was the pronounced pace and bounce of the first two Tests and in its place only a fraction of seam movement when a good length was located.

The pitch also offered a bit of grip for Will Jacks, even if his consistency was typical of a part-timer – resulting in figures of 2/105 from his 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will give hope to Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.

Emotional Context and A Late Team Change.

This was inevitably an emotional occasion for the host nation, coming so shortly after a devastating tragic incident at Bondi. A minute's silence observed prior to the start of play was immaculately observed, followed by musician a rendition delivering an emotional rendition of True Blue.

Earlier, the hosts had also been forced into an alteration from their stated XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting dizziness along with nausea in the morning – an apparent recurrence of the vertigo that has intermittently troubled him since being felled by Archer at Lord’s six years ago.

His place was taken by Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after it was speculated his Test career could be over. Before the wicketkeeper's heroics, Khawaja had held the innings steady, coming to the crease at 33/2 and finessing 82 off 126 balls a day out before turning 39. Stands of 61 with Marnus Labuschagne plus another of 91 runs with Carey proved significant.

England's Frustration Continues.

Aside from Archer's efforts, and despite the sapping heat, it remained still another disappointing outing from the English bowling attack. Brydon Carse rather continued his inconsistent form of the series, picking up two for 70 off 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue claimed one for 63 from 15 overs.

The Durham bowler was all over the shop when handed sharing the duty of the new cherry first thing, overstepping five times yet dismissing Travis Head for 10 thanks to a sublime one-handed catch from Zak Crawley in the covers. It rather summed up the day for both sides: moments of brilliance interspersed with periods of error-prone cricket.