After the chaos from Perth and Brisbane's day-night spectacle, a more familiar style of Test cricket returned at Adelaide Oval. For the delighted locals, it was a day to enjoy, as local hero the wicketkeeper-batsman produced a magnificent hundred at his home venue to help the home side just shade the first day's play.
Not that England, trailing 2-0 and clinging on in this series, could be too downbeat. Ben Stokes lost out on what seemed like a crucial coin toss and, despite being not at their best, the English attack kept plugging away under 35c heat. By the close of play, Australia had reached 326 for eight off 83 overs – a total on the board but surely short of their ambitions after captain Pat Cummins got the choice first thing.
The standout for the tourists proved to be speedster Jofra Archer. Returning figures of 3/29 from his 16 overs were a powerful response against the criticism directed at him this past week. On this day he clearly led the bowling unit, averaging around 88mph (142kph) on the speed gun while providing his captain both accuracy and clear threat. It was only towards the very end of play – one over with the second new ball – did he look a bit jaded.
Having dismissed Jake Weatherald first thing, the fast bowler's first over post-lunch wiped out Marnus Labuschagne followed by Cameron Green in the space of three deliveries. The all-rounder's duck served as a reminder that this sport can swiftly bring even a celebrated player back down to earth, his weak chip to mid-wicket arriving barely 24 hours after trousering a record £1.5m deal for the upcoming IPL.
Carey's performance, in contrast, was nothing short of priceless, peaking around 4.48pm as he drove Ben Stokes through cover for three which prompted the Adelaide faithful to rise with a roar. Coming off his virtuoso display behind the stumps in Brisbane, the left-hander's counterattacking 106 runs from 143 balls ensured that the mid-innings stumble of 94/4 failed to develop into a full-blown crisis. At 34, Carey is a serious Test match player nowadays.
Australia undoubtedly left some potential runs on the field, though. Absent was the excessive pace and bounce of the first two Tests and in its place only a fraction of nibble if the right area was hit.
The pitch also offered some turn for Will Jacks, although his consistency was that of a part-time spinner – hence expensive figures of two for 105 from 20 overs – but the deliveries that did to turn sharply will encourage Australia's own spinner, Nathan Lyon.
The day's play was always going to be an emotional day for Australia, coming so soon in the wake of a devastating tragic incident in Bondi. A minute's silence observed prior to the start of play was perfectly held, broken only by folk singer John Williams performing a stirring version of True Blue.
Earlier, the hosts had also been compelled to make a change from their stated XI. Veteran batsman Steve Smith was withdrawn after reporting feeling dizzy and sickness first thing – an apparent recurrence of the vertigo that has periodically affected the star batter since being felled by Archer at Lord’s six years ago.
In came Usman Khawaja, just 24 hours after many felt his international career could be over. Before the wicketkeeper's arrival, the left-hander had held the innings steady, walking out at 33/2 and finessing a fine 82 from 126 balls a day out from turning 39. Partnerships worth 61 runs with Marnus Labuschagne and 91 runs with Carey proved significant.
Archer aside, and despite the sapping heat, it remained still another frustrating day from England’s attack. Seamer Brydon Carse somewhat continued his form from the series, finishing with figures of 2/70 from his 13 overs, and the incoming Josh Tongue picked up 1/63 in 15 overs.
Carse looked erratic when tasked with sharing the duty of the new ball first thing, no-balling five times but still dismissing Travis Head for 10 courtesy of a spectacular catch from Zak Crawley in the covers. It rather summed up the day's play for both sides: moments of brilliance mixed with periods of sloppy cricket.
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